About 700 foreigners under protection of French military in Cote d'

PARIS, April 2 (Itar-Tass) -- About 700 foreigners are under the
protection of French military in the camp of Port-Bouet near Abidjan, the
largest city of Cote d'Ivoire, the chief staff of the French Armed Forces
said on Friday.
Of the 700 people 200 arrived in the camp on Friday, and 500 on
Thursday. Around 200 of the refugees are French citizens. All civilians in
the camp fled Abidjan to avoid falling victim to hostilities and robberies.
As the spokesman for the Chief Staff of the Armed Forces of France
Thierry Burkhard said, French troops on Friday continued to patrol Abidjan'
s neighborhoods populated mainly by citizens of Western countries. Colonel
Burkhard said that the danger of attacks by group of robbers in the area
still remained.
The French contingent participating in the peacekeeping operation
Licorn, which has lasted for several years, consists of about 900 officers
and men.