The United Nations warned against attacks on its personnel in Ivory Coast and said it would stay after the man who refuses to give up the presidency ordered thousands of peacekeepers to get out and defied an EU deadline Sunday for stepping down.

The European Union was giving Laurent Gbagbo until the end of the weekend to concede defeat or face sanctions that would include an assets freeze and a visa ban on him and his wife. The UN Security Council is also expected to meet Monday to discuss Ivory Coast's political crisis.

Still, experts say there are few strong options for forcing Gbagbo out of office, and it is unlikely the African Union or others would back a military intervention.

"The trouble is both sides are clearly preparing now for conflict, and a cornered Gbagbo shows little sense of the national tragedy unfolding through his brinkmanship," said Alex Vines, head of the Africa program at Chatham House, an independent research center in London.

Vines said it was more likely that the African Union would seek a «soft landing» for Gbagbo, though it remained unclear whether he would consider such an exile offer.

In a statement read on state television Saturday, Gbagbo's spokeswoman said that 9,000 UN peacekeepers and another 900 French troops supporting them were to leave the volatile West African country immediately. Gbagbo accused the UN mission of backing his opponent, Alassane Ouattara, and arming rebels who support him.

The UN and the international community recognize Ouattara as the victor of last month's presidential runoff vote. The UN had been invited by the country itself to supervise the vote and certify the outcome following a peace accord after Ivory Coast's 2002-2003 civil war.

About 800 UN peacekeepers are protecting the compound from which Ouattara is trying to govern the country.

The UN secretary-general said late Saturday that the UN mission known as UNOCI would stay in Ivory Coast despite Gbagbo's demand.

"UNOCI will fulfill its mandate and will continue to monitor and document any human rights violations, incitement to hatred and violence, or attacks on UN peacekeepers," said a statement released by a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

While the UN peacekeepers plan to continue their work, Gbagbo's demand raised fears that UN personnel and other foreigners could be targeted in violence. Over the weekend, masked gunmen opened fire on the UN compound. Two military observers were wounded in a separate incident.

International pressure is mounting on Gbagbo to give up his claim to power. The UN Security Council planned to discuss the situation in Ivory Coast on Monday, as well as the renewal of the UNOCI's mandate, which is due to expire on Dec. 31.