PARIS: France on Friday advised its citizens in Ivory Coast, “in particular families with children,” to temporarily leave the West African state because of the political crisis there.

“Although foreign nationals are not at present threatened, the French authorities renew their advice... to all French who can, in particular families with children, to temporarily leave Ivory Coast,” the foreign ministry said.

Around 14,000 French citizens live in the former French colony where Laurent Gbagbo is refusing to hand over power to his rival Alassane Ouattara, who is internationally recognised as the winner of November's presidential elections.

France has already urged its citizens to leave, but on Friday renewed the advice as UN peacekeepers stared down threats by Gbagbo supporters to storm a hotel where they were protecting Ouattara.

“We estimate at around 2,000 the number of French who have left the country,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Christine Fages.

French citizens were targeted by Ivorian gangs in 2004 after French troops destroyed Gbagbo's entire air force in reaction to an air strike that killed nine of their comrades.

Rioting erupted in the biggest city Abidjan, with gangs of  “Young Patriots” targeting France's still substantial interests and large expatriate community

in the city. French troops killed 50 civilian protesters.

Gbagbo warned this week that a French-US “plot” to refuse to recognise him as Ivory Coast's legitimate leader was pushing the country towards civil war. – AFP