UN approves 2000 additional troops for Côte d'Ivoire

UN approves 2000 additional troops for Côte d'Ivoire

2011-01-20 06:36:26 GMT+7 (ICT)

ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE (BNO NEWS) -- An additional 2,000 peacekeepers will be sent to Cote d'Ivoire amid a post-election crisis, the UN Security Council ordered on Wednesday.

The 15-nation Security Council’s decision was adopted unanimously after Russia had blocked the resolution for several days, state-owned daily Fraternité Matin reported.

Russia found that the text prepared by the United States and France contained "too much political intrigue."

The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) currently has approximately 9,000 blue helmets to aid in to reunify the African country following the 2002 Civil War. Some of the additional troops will continue protecting the Golf Hotel where internationally-back president Alassane Ouattara and his supporters are located.

Mr. Ban had asked the Security Council for between 1,000 and 2,000 additional forces for the mission.

The Security Council decided to authorize "the deployment of an additional 2,000 military personnel to UNOCI until June 30, 2011," the resolution said.

The UN troops have been under attack after the presidential elections in the West African country in November last year. UNOCI on Tuesday informed that supporters of former President Laurent Gbagbo opened fire at a security patrol overnight.

The attack was the latest attempt from Gbagbo to incite hatred against UNOCI after the UN ratified that Ouattara was the winner of the last presidential elections, despite Gbagbo's claims that indicate otherwise. Not only has Mr. Gbagbo refused to step down, but he has also demanded the withdrawal of UNOCI.

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