EU aid chief urges Ivory Coast leaders to protect civilians

BRUSSELS: EU aid chief Kristalina Georgieva on Monday urged warring Ivory Coast rivals Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo to protect civilians and save the country from slipping "further into civil war."

"I appeal to both Laurent Gbagbo and president elect Alassane Ouattara, for the sake of your people, for the sake of your neighbours, for the sake of humanity please protect civilians, allow the help of humanitarian workers and prevent Cote d'Ivoire from slipping further into civil war," Georgieva said in a video statement.