UN extends Ivory Coast mandate

The UN Security Council has extended the mandate of the peacekeeping force in Ivory Coast for six months, in a challenge to incumbent Laurent Gbagbo, who said it should leave.

Mr Gbagbo last week ordered out the 10,000-member force after the UN said he had lost a 28 November presidential election to challenger Alassane Ouattara and should step down - which he has refused to do.