EFL:
 Ivory Coast soldiers battled rebel forces as warplanes launched more bombing raids Friday, escalating hostilities a day after the government abandoned a cease-fire meant to end a civil war that killed thousands of people. A "skirmish" between government and rebel forces occurred near the town of Raviar, about 20 miles south of the rebel stronghold of Bouake, said U.N. military spokesman Philippe Moreux. "We are waiting to see how many combatants were involved and exactly what happened," Moreux said. | Take your time, Philippe. It's not like you are going to do anything. |
There was no immediate word on casualties in the clashes, which came a day after government warplanes bombed Bouake, breaking the 2003 cease-fire. The jets ran five bombing runs there, destroying rebel headquarters and ruining other buildings, including homes and businesses. Rebels also said there were new air attacks Friday by government warplanes, saying two bombed the rebel-held town of Vavoua and strafed it with machine-gun fire. The target in the town west of Bouake was not clear, said rebel commander Yeo, who only gave his first name. Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie of France, Ivory Coast's former colonial ruler, called the situation "extremely worrying" and urged the United Nations to "give all lawful means" to help peacekeepers here restore order. Alliot-Marie, speaking to France Inter radio in Paris, confirmed Friday's bombing raids. | Having trouble with the UN, Michele? How distressing. And they've been so supportive of France in the past. |
On Thursday, at least 39 people - including 14 civilians - were gravely injured in air attacks, said Antoine Foucher, spokesman for the French aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders. The group said it was sure others were killed, but it could not say how many. The government also bombed another rebel-held city, Korhogo, on Thursday, New York-based Human Rights Watch said. Civilians were believed to be among the casualties, the group said. The U.N. Security Council, fearing a return to a full-scale war that would threaten its peace efforts across the region, called the attacks "grave" and "worrying" after an emergency meeting late Thursday. The world body suspended all humanitarian work in Ivory Coast after fighting resumed and condemned what it called "major" violations of the cease-fire. | What's next, a stern note of protest? |
UPDATE: PARIS (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's army launched its first land attacks against a rebel-held zone in the north of the country, France Info radio said on Friday without giving details. "U.N. peacekeepers in Ivory Coast placed themselves to prevent an army column from moving north against the rebel-held zone," the radio said, quoting the French defense ministry. | United Nations Peacekeepers, a speedbump on the road to war. |
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