Most Dutch people living in Ivory Coast are unwilling to leave despite the fact that the violence there has got considerably worse over the last few days, says the Dutch ambassador to Ghana, Gerard Duifjes.

President Laurent Gbagbo is refusing to hand over power after losing elections last November to Alassane Ouattara. Mr Duifjes says more and more urban warfare is taking place between supporters of the two political rivals.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon fears Ivory Coast is on the brink of a new civil war and is pressing for an emergency UN session on the issue. The move follows reports that Belarus has delivered three attack helicopters to Mr Gbagbo in breach of an international arms embargo.

The ambassador explains that, despite the worsening situation, most of the 53 Dutch citizens in Ivory Coast are unwilling to leave. “They’ve built up lives here, with or without Ivorian partners. That’s different from an expat who is somewhere temporarily to work on a project.”

Mr Duifjes says there may come a time when an emergency evacuation is necessary, but that it is difficult to say when that might be.

(mw)

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