UN alarmed over Ivory Coast unrest

The United Nations Human Rights Council has condemned serious violations of basic rights in the Ivory Coast following last month’s presidential poll.

The Geneva-based assembly, which comprises 47 countries including Switzerland, called for an immediate end to the political violence.

Thursday’s special session of the council heard reports that up to 200 people were killed and dozens more tortured or mistreated.

The United States and the European Union have imposed travel sanctions on the incumbent Ivory Coast president, Laurent Gbagbo, who is under international pressure to quit after an election which major powers say he lost to rival Alassane Ouattara.

On Wednesday the World Bank froze funding to the Ivory Coast.

The Swiss foreign ministry has been advising its citizens against travelling to the West African state. However, Swiss tourists continue to arrive in the largest city, Abidjan, despite the warning issued at the beginning of the month, according to an embassy official.

The foreign ministry also called on the roughly 160 Swiss expatriates to heed security instructions or to leave the country.