Europe agreed yesterday to slap sanctions on the Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to accept defeat in last month’s presidential elections to his rival Alassane Outtara.

As the standoff between the rival leaders dragged on, European Union foreign ministers announced they had agreed to a “visa ban and an assets freeze.”

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is to draw up the list of Ivorian leaders to be targeted by the sanctions.

She said at a news conference she hoped “this decision will help persuade the incumbent government and we’ll not have to reach the state of sanctions”.

The 27 EU governments “decided to adopt without delay targeted restrictive measures against those who are obstructing the process of peace and national reconciliation, and in particular who are jeopardising the proper outcome of the electoral process,” they said in a statement.

“They will particularly target those leading figures who have refused to place themselves under the authority of the democratically elected president,” the ministers said after congratulating Mr Ouattara on his election win.

An “initial list” of those in the west African state hit by bans will be drawn up “rapidly,” they said.

Mr Gbagbo and Mr Ouattara both declared themselves president and named governments in the wake of last month’s disputed election.

Mr Ouattara’s victory has been recognised by the United Nations and the international community, but Mr Gbagbo retains control of the Ivorian army and the south, which is home to the country’s main cocoa-exporting harbours.

The 53-nation African Union suspended Ivory Coast from its ranks last week “until the democratically elected president Alassane Ouattara takes power.”

The United States has warned of sanctions too.