I. Coast: France urges nationals to leave

Wednesday 22 December 2010
Samuel Okocha, AfricaNews reporter in Lagos, Nigeria

France has called on its nationals in Ivory Coast to leave following the continued crisis over disputed elections in the West African country.

Government spokesman Francois Baroin said the measure was "precautionary," the BBC reports adding there are approximately 15,000 French citizens in Ivory Coast.

The French move came as head of the World Bank Robert Zoellick said financing to the Ivory Coast had been frozen.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned the country could slip into civil war, adding incumbent Laurent Gbagbo was trying to expel peacekeepers.

Gbagbo's challenger Alassane Ouattara is recognized by the international community as winner of last month's presidential run-off.

Source: AfricaNews.
Link: http://www.africanews.com/site/I_Coast_France_urges_nationals_to_leave/list_messages/36733.