( CNN ) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday the situation in the Ivory Coast is increasingly volatile and the country risks a return to civil war . The West African nation has fallen into chaos since a presidential runoff election there last month . The country 's Independent Electoral Commission said opposition candidate Alassane Ouattara won the election , but its Constitutional Council invalidated those results and declared incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo the winner . The United Nations , the African Union and other international bodies recognize Ouattara as the victor , but Gbagbo is refusing to step down . `` In the past week , there has been an alarming increase in the use of intimidation by elements of the national security forces loyal to Mr. Gbagbo against the civilian population , and in particular against supporters of President-elect Ouattara , '' Ban said in New York . `` The tactics include abductions and killings and the propagation of hate speech through the state broadcasting corporation , '' he continued . `` There is a real risk of a return to civil war . '' Meanwhile , in the Ivory Coast , Gbagbo dug in his heels , declaring `` I am president , '' in a defiant speech . He stressed he is the legitimate winner of the election , but said he would be willing to welcome an international committee to review the results to avoid any further violence . `` I do n't want any more bloodshed . I do n't want any more war , '' he said . U.N. peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy referred to Gbagbo 's remarks when he spoke to reporters in New York . `` Mr. Gbagbo has been very clear . He wants no violence , no more blood , '' Le Roy said . `` So all the forces loyal to him should stop immediately provocation , instigating violence , violation of human rights and provoking the UNOCI mission . We have a mandate to fulfill , and we will fulfill that mandate . '' Le Roy said Gbagbo 's allies have been handing out rifles to members of a `` Young Patriots '' group , and mercenaries from Liberia and Angola have been hired `` to provoke the civilian population and UNOCI personnel . '' He said the United Nations appreciated Gbagbo 's call for restraint , but said it should be accompanied by a halt to incitement and attacks on Ouattara 's supporters . His and Ban 's comments echoed those made by Amnesty International earlier in the day . Citing eyewitnesses , the rights group said it has heard an increasing number of stories of people arrested or otherwise taken by gunman , often with the cooperation of security forces in the Ivory Coast . Amnesty said police are accused of attacking a mosque in Grand-Bassam , opening fire on crowds and groping female protesters . `` It is clear that more and more people are being illegally detained by security forces or armed militiamen and we fear that many of them may have been killed or have disappeared , '' Salvatore Sagues , Amnesty International 's West Africa researcher , said in a written statement . Two U.N. military observers were hurt Saturday in an attack by what Ban called `` Young Patriots , '' according to a statement from the secretary-general . On Friday , six armed men wearing military uniforms and traveling in a civilian vehicle opened fire on U.N. peacekeepers in Sebroko , the peacekeeping operation reported . The U.N. troops returned fire . The U.N. Security Council has extended its peacekeepers ' mission in Ivory Coast through June 30 , despite an expulsion order by Gbagbo . The Gbagbo government accuses the United Nations of providing military and logistical support to former rebels who are backers of Ouattara -- a charge Ban denied . `` The United Nations has stood on the side of Africa against this attempt to overturn the democratic process and the will of the Ivorian people , '' he said . Ban also accused forces loyal to Gbagbo of obstructing the movement of United Nations ' personnel and operations in the Ivory Coast , blocking the delivery of key supplies . `` The international community must act ... and act decisively , '' he said .
NEW : Incumbent president says he is willing to have election results reviewed . Ban Ki-moon says the situation in the Ivory Coast is increasingly volatile and violent . He accuses security forces there of intimidation , abductions and killings . The Ivory Coast has fallen into chaos since a disputed presidential election last month .