PARIS, April 4 , 2011 - President Nicolas Sarkozy's Elysee Palace office said on Monday that France has authorised its military to participate in a United Nations operation in Ivory Coast. The army will protect civilians against escalating violence.
The Elysee Palace said the operation aimed to neutralise heavy weapons belonging to troops loyal to Laurent Gbagbo who are fighting forces supporting Alassane Ouattara's rival claim to the presidency.
"The Secretary General of the United Nations requested the support of French forces in these operations," said the statement, which added that Sarkozy had responded favourably and in line with a U.N. mandate to protect civilians.
France has close to 12,000 nationals in the ex-colony and announced earlier on Monday that it was sending in a further 150 soldiers from Gabon, which would bring the number of French troops there to 1,650.-----
