The Obama administration has placed sanctions on Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo and members of his inner circle because Gbagbo has refused to step down after November’s disputed election. Both Gbagbo and opposition leader Alassane Ouattara have claimed victory in November’s election, but the international community has recognized Ouattara as the winner. On Thursday, Ouattara called for a “special operations” raid to seize Gbagbo and remove him from the country.