UN to send 2,000 more troops to Côte d'Ivoire

The UN Security Council on Wednesday has ordered 2,000 extra peacekeepers to Côte d'Ivoire in order to reinforce the troops already on the ground.This brings the total of peacekeepers, including police, to 11,500 with about 800 protecting the Golf Hotel where Alassane Ouattara, the internationally-back president, is based.

Reuters / Thierry Gouegnon

Russia, a permanent Security Council member, had blocked the resolution for several days, calling the text too "political" in character.

Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent president, has refused to accept the 28 November election result and hand over power to Ouattara. Ouattara was confirmed president by the country's Independent Electoral Commission.

The Council also demanded that Gbagbo lift a military blockade around the Golf Hotel.

Meanwhile, African Union envoy and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga left Côte d'Ivoire early on Wednesday. He told reporters before he left that Gbagbo had promised him twice that the blockade would be lifted. Odinga said on Wednesday that Gbagbo loyalist soliders had not left the Golf Hotel.

"The breakthrough that was needed did not materialise," said Odinga, who held talks with both Ouattara and Gbagbo before he left Abidjan.

The Kenyan prime minister flew to Ghana to discuss the regional response to the crisis. Meanwhile, chiefs of staff from the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) are continuing talks ion Mali on whether to take military action against Gbagbo.