EU gives Gbagbo until end of week to leave power

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is giving Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo until the end of the week to leave the presidency or face EU sanctions and possibly prosecution by the international court.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday EU nations were unanimous that Gbagbo should leave office in the former French colony. Otherwise he and his wife will face an assets freeze and visa ban.

Sarkozy said Gbagbo was responsible for turning one of Africa's most stable nations into one where innocent people are shot in the streets by the president's supporters. He noted there are international courts to deal with such crimes.

Police were out in force in Abidjan on Friday as supporters of the internationally recognized winner of Ivory Coast's presidential election vowed to try once again to seize state institutions.