French flown out of Ivory Coast
France is evacuating its nationals from Ivory Coast after days of anti-French demonstrations. The first plane carrying 270 people from the main city Abidjan landed in Paris on Wednesday evening, and two more flights were expected follow. The disturbances came in response to France's destruction of the Ivorian air force, in retaliation for the deaths of nine French peacekeepers on Saturday. The government has called on people to return to work in riot-hit Abidjan. The BBC's James Copnall in Abidjan said the situation in the city is calmer, with some public transport now operating, and that there is a good chance some people will return to work tomorrow. But anti-French mobs are still active in Abidjan, he added.
Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-11-11 |