France has agreed to conduct joint patrols with Ivory Coast's army in an effort to restore calm after deadly clashes involving security forces and protesters, the West African country said last night.
"The president of the republic, in agreement with the prime minister . . . has asked France and [West African peacekeepers] MICECI to help the defense and security forces assure security," Internal Security Minister Martin Bleou said.
"France has just given its agreement," he told state television.
The country's government also said it backed an international investigation into last week's violence following widespread accusations that security forces and loyalist militia killed unarmed opposition supporters.
The government appeared to be trying to regain favor in the international arena, where it has been widely criticised recently by human rights groups and Western governments, including former colonial power France.
Last week's clashes in the main city Abidjan were a low point in efforts to build peace after a civil war was declared over in July. The country remains politically divided between the rebel-held north and government-run south.