United Nations (CNN) -- The U.S. is prepared to impose "targeted sanctions" on Ivory Coast's incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, the State Department said Friday.
"From the United States' standpoint, time is running out." spokesman P.J. Crowley said at a briefing.
The sanctions, according to Crowley, would target "President Gbagbo, his immediate family and his inner circle, should he continue to illegitimately cling to power".
Violence has broken out between supporters of Gbagbo and of Alassane Ouattara, the internationally supported winner of the November runoff. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Gbagbo's efforts to maintain his office "cannot be allowed to stand". CNN
