Ivory Coast evacuation: People have lost everything

After several days of anti-French mob violence, France and the US began one of the most largest evacuations of hundreds of French citizens and thousands of others from &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/2003/01/09/41760.html ' target=_blank>Ivory Coast.

Three planes carrying 843 French nationals were expected late on Wednesday in Paris from Abidjan, the main city in the world's top cocoa grower, French officials said.

Britain has drawn up plans for troops to help evacuate the several hundred nationals it has in the Ivory Coast if the situation gets worse, Prime Minister &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2003/03/20/44710.html ' target=_blank>Tony Blair's spokesman said on Wednesday, informs Reuters.

According to the ABC News, An adviser to the Ivory Coast President says 64 people have been killed and "more than 1,000" wounded in several days of anti-French mob violence that has swept through the main city, Abidjan.

"This toll, which is not definitive, represents the sum of the information collected from emergency organisations," Alain Toussaint said.

the latest chapter in Ivory Coast's two years of turmoil opened with Government air strikes on key rebel strongholds in the north.