STANDOFF

Ivory Coast Prez on His Last Legs

U.N. urges Gbagbo to go as enemies close in.

Is Ivory Coast’s president finally on his way out? U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Laurent Gbagbo to step down from his presidency after a day of clashes between anti-government protesters and Gbagbo's supporters. The heaviest fighting occurred around the president's palace today, while forces supporting Gbagbo's opponent Allasane Ouattara—the legitimate winner of the November presidential election—have gained hundreds of kilometers of ground and established strongholds in many towns along the way. More than 1 million people have fled their homes since the fighting began, with many of them taking refuge in neighboring Liberia and Ghana. Gbagbo has not been seen in public for weeks. Meanwhile, his most senior general has resigned and a small core group of supporters are still fighting for his presidency.