UN Security Council approves additional troops for Ivorian run-off election

UN Security Council approves additional troops for Ivorian run-off election

2010-11-25 13:23:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Security Council has authorized the deployment of additional UN peacekeepers to Côte d'Ivoire ahead of the presidential run-off election on Sunday.

The Security Council also urged all citizens and officials in the West African nation to ensure a peaceful election process. The decision of the council was reached in a unanimously adopted resolution.

Through this, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was authorized to temporarily redeploy a maximum of three infantry companies and an aviation unit from the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to the UN peacekeeping force in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) for a period of no more than four weeks.

The additional troops will support the 500 peacekeepers who were already sent to the country to reinforce the 8,650-strong UNOCI and assist with security during the election period.

On Sunday, incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo is set to face former prime minister, Alassane Ouattara. The first round of elections took place on October 31.

The elections are considered a major step in restoring stability in the country, which was split by civil war into a Government-held south and rebel Forces Nouvelles-controlled north in 2002.

In recent days, acts of violence have occurred in the main commercial city of Abidjan. UNOCI has condemned the acts and appealed to the two candidates, to the political parties and to the population to abstain from statements and acts that could endanger the run-off.

"The Security Council urges the two candidates and all political leaders to maintain a calm and peaceful atmosphere throughout the electoral process and to appeal to their supporters to refrain from any acts of violence, provocation and incitement to violence," the UN body said in a statement.

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