PARIS (AP) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy has given the green light for French troops in embattled Ivory Coast to take part in U.N. operations there aimed at protecting civilians.
In a statement Monday, Sarkozy’s office said the request for French participation in operations came from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The statement said the operations would be aimed at taking out embattled Ivorian leader Laurent Gbagbo’s heavy weapons.
France has about 1,650 troops in Ivory Coast, a former colony, French military officials have said.
Monday’s statement said France calls for the “immediate cessation of all violence against civilians” and warned that “those responsible for such crimes will have to respond before the law.”
