France boosts Ivory Coast presence

French troops are monitoring a ceasefire

France has announced it is sending troop reinforcements to Ivory Coast to protect French and other foreign citizens.

The announcement came as both the Ivory Coast Government and the rebels called on volunteers to join in the civil war.

Foreigners in Ivory Coast

Burkina Faso: 2.3m

Mali: 792,260

Guinea: 230,390

Ghana: 133,220

Benin: 107,500

Niger: 102,220

Nigeria: 101,360

Source: 1998 census

The French foreign ministry also said Paris intended calling a meeting of all African nations involved in the Ivory Coast fighting.

The Ivorian Government has appealed to the international community to intervene militarily to resolve the conflict with rebels who have taken control of the north of the country.

President Laurent Gbagbo's adviser in Europe, Toussaint Alain, said France, the United States and the European Union must intervene because regional mediation efforts were deadlocked.

The rebels have threatened to walk out of the talks in Togo, following the discovery of 120 bodies in a mass grave who they say were killed by government forces.

Both sides have accused each other of preparing to resume fighting, and government forces have retaken a key cocoa-producing town seized by a new rebel group at the weekend.

No tolerance

The foreign ministry announcement did not specify how many French troops would join those currently on the ground in Ivory Coast - thought to be numbering between 1,000-1,500.

The troops would "answer the need for protection of French nationals and foreigners, for stability and securing of the cease-fire".

The volunteers say they are prepared to die

France has 20,000 nationals in its former colony.

They are more tightly integrated than most and to persuade them to leave for safety is more difficult and for France a politically sensitive step, says the BBC's Paul Welsh, reporting from the Ivory Coast commercial capital, Abidjan.

In addition to sending more troops, the French Government is seeking to mediate in the conflict.

"France is ready to host a meeting in Paris of the African heads of state of states concerned, and organise a parallel meeting of representatives of the Ivorian political forces," the strongly-worded foreign ministry statement said.

"Attacks on the unity, integrity and sovereignty in Ivory Coast are unacceptable. France condemns the recourse to the use of force, violence and exactions as well all outside interference," it said.

Since the uprising began on 19 September, Burkina Faso, and Liberia have been accused of backing the rebels, who, in turn, charged Ghana with supporting the government of President Laurent Gbagbo.

Recruitment drive

Government forces have now retaken the town of Blolekin, in the west of the country, French soldiers have confirmed.

The army is now pushing rebels back towards the Liberian border, Ivorian military sources were quoted as saying.

On Tuesday, thousands of young men volunteered to fight for the Ivorian Government against the rebels.

The government's recruitment drive has been postponed to Thursday, because of the huge number of volunteers who have come forward.

On Thursday, Mr Gbagbo is also expected to meet the leaders of the main political parties in Abidjan to discuss the crisis.

Several countries have advised their citizens to leave Ivory Coast because of the escalating crisis.

At least 400 people have been killed since the uprising by disgruntled soldiers, and hundreds of thousands displaced by the fighting.