U.N.: Ivory Coast at 'Real Risk' of Civil War

The election that was supposed to unify north and south Ivory Coast now has a “real risk” of devolving into civil war, according to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. In a speech to the U.N. General Assembly, Ban said he was worried that Laurent Gbagbo’s blockade of the 800 peacekeepers protecting Alassane Ouattara, Gbagbo’s opponent in the election and the man internationally recognized to have won it, will put “peacekeepers in a critical situation in the coming days.” Ban added, "Facing this direct and unacceptable challenge to the legitimacy of the United Nations, the world community cannot stand by.” The U.S., following the E.U. on Monday, has levied sanctions against allies of Gbagbo.