ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AFP) – Nationalist backers of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo responsible for days of anti-UN violence warned yesterday that they would not accept the world body imposing sanctions on them.

The so-called Young Patriots “will never accept such an injustice”, said their leader Charles Ble Goude. “I don’t want to speculate on what hasn’t yet happened. Wait until the sanctions are imposed and then you’ll see.”

Ble Goude also issued an ultimatum to interim prime minister Charles Konan Banny to publish within two weeks a schedule to disarm northern rebels or face his group’s wrath.

The UN Security Council on Thursday edged closer to sanctioning politicians blamed for last week’s anti-UN violence and details and names of those targeted are expected to be released within days.

Charles Ble Goude is regularly speculated to be a potential candidate of the sanctions, which might include a travel ban and freezing of assets.

The four days of violence by Gbagbo’s backers targeting UN facilities erupted after a UN-mandated international working group recommended the Ivorian Parliament stand down because its five-year term had ended.