UN Security Council Adds 2,000 Troops to Ivory Coast Force

The United Nations Security Council voted today to send 2,000 additional peacekeeping troops to Ivory Coast to protect civilians and deter violence following the disputed presidential election in the world’s leading cocoa producer.

The Security Council voted 15 to 0 to authorize the reinforcements, which will bring the contingent to about 11,150 soldiers and civilian police. The resolution also calls for the transfer of three attack helicopters from the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia and extends the authorized deployment of 500 troops that were transferred from Liberia last year.