Monday, December 6th, 2010 VOA News The United Nations has ordered its non-essential personnel out of the Ivory Coast due to mounting tensions in the West African country over disputed presidential election results.
Some 460 staff are being temporarily relocated to the neighboring country of Gambia.
U.N. officials said those being moved are
Pressure is growing on incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo to step down and hand power to Alassane Ouattara, his opponent in the November 28 runoff election.
Both men have taken the oath of office and begun organizing competing governments. Mr. Ouattara's claim to the presidency is backed by several countries and international organizations, including the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and the United States.
The AU has dispatched former South African President Thabo Mbeki to seek a solution to the crisis but no breakthroughs have been reported after two days of talks.
On Monday, supporters of Mr. Ouattara burned tires in the streets of Ivory Coast's capital, Abidjan. The government has extended a nighttime curfew for another week.
The Ivory Coast's presidential election, its first in 10 years, was meant to restore stability to the West African country, which was split into rebel- and government-controlled areas during a 2002 civil war.
The president of the European Commission said Monday that Mr. Gbagbo's refusal to accept defeat threatens the stability of West Africa.
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