Ivory coast crisis: UN confirms strikes

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12966816

Ivory coast crisis: UN confirms strikes

4 April 2011 Last updated at 16:58 ET Help French and UN helicopters have fired

on military camps operated by Ivory Coast incumbent leader t Gbagbo, in a

bid to halt attacks on civilians.

The strikes came as fighters backing Mr Gbagbo's rival Alassane Ouattara stepped

up their attempts to take control of the main city, Abidjan.

The UN has been under pressure to fulfil its mandate to protect civilians, and

asked for French help.

The UN chief's representative in Ivory Coast, Choi Young-jin, spoke to the BBC

by phone from Abidjan.