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Europeans flee Ivory Coast violence

By Africa correspondent Sally Sara

French military officials say several foreign women have been raped during anti-French violence in Ivory Coast and more than 2,500 foreigners have been evacuated.

The French Army is evacuating foreign civilians from Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, and several thousand foreigners are sheltering at the airport.

Some French women say they were raped when angry mobs stormed their homes and French military officials are investigating the attacks.

Several European nations including Spain, Belgium and Italy are also evacuating their citizens because of ongoing violence in Ivory Coast.

The United Nations refugee agency says more than 5,000 Ivorian civilians have fled to neighbouring Liberia.

Meanwhile, west African leaders are preparing to hold an emergency summit to end the violence in Ivory Coast.

The African Union is calling on government and opposition officials in Ivory Coast to show restraint.

The African Union has invited regional leaders to talks in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, with the union's chairman, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, to lead the discussion.

The latest violence in Ivory Coast began a week ago when government aircraft bombed rebel positions.

Nine French peacekeepers were killed in one of the air raids in the northern city of Bouake. French troops responded by destroying most of the Ivorian air force.

The African Union talks are scheduled to start tomorrow.

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