The African Union (AU) has suspended the membership of Ivory Coast today. AU official Ramtane Lamamra said Ivory Coast would remain suspended until opposition candidate Alassane Ouattara "takes over" from Laurent Gbagbo. The UN Security Council earlier said Mr. Ouattara had won last week's poll. However, Mr. Gbagbo who is backed by the army is defying international pressure and continuing to cling to power.Mr. Ouattara was declared the winner of last Sunday's run-off poll by the country's independent electoral body, but this was overturned by the Constitutional Council. This is the second suspension the country is under as the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) also suspended Ivory Coast earlier this week. Both candidates have been sworn in as president of the republic.