US orders nearly all personnel out of Ivory Coast

[December 20, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department is ordering most of its personnel to leave Ivory Coast because of what officials are calling a deteriorating political and security situation and growing anti-Western sentiment.

The order issued Sunday exempts only the State Department's emergency personnel. U.S. officials are also warning all American citizens to avoid travel to the West African nation until further notice.

The U.S. Embassy's Consular Section in Ivory Coast's largest city, Abidjan, has temporarily curtailed all consular services except emergency services for American citizens.

A disputed presidential election has led to deadly violence in Ivory Coast and threats of international sanctions if President Laurent Gbagbo refuses to relinquish power.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.