- Title: IVORY COAST: France advises its citizens to leave Ivory Coast
- Date: 23rd December 2010
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (DECEMBER 22, 2010) (REUTERS) MEDIA OUTSIDE FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
- Embargoed: 7th January 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Cote d'Ivoire
- Country: Ivory Coast
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA31U3ID9ZAUZCRPPM9SGOWF1AX
- Story Text: France is recommending that its citizens leave Ivory Coast, a government spokesman said on Wednesday (December 22) after President Nicolas Sarkozy presided over a meeting to discuss the crisis over a contested election in its former colony.
"As a precautionary measure we recommend to all the French that can do so, temporarily leave Ivory Coast pending a normalisation of the situation," government spokesman Francois Baroin told reporters.
"Let me remind you that there are already tens of victims and that it is France's duty to protect its citizens by giving out messages of responsibility and protection," Baroin added.
France has about 15,000 nationals in Ivory Coast.
The Ivory Coast's presidential election on November 28 was intended to heal the scars of a 2002-03 war but has instead triggered a violent standoff between incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara, with the latter internationally recognised as victor. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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