ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) - The United Nations said Wednesday that thousands of refugees were without help after riots forced it to curtail operations in Ivory Coast.
Speaking as Ivory Coast's new national unity government held its first Cabinet meeting, the U.N. also said that days of deadly of riots had created new refugees; 167 Ivorians who had crossed into neighboring Liberia.
"They were afraid of the violence going on. They were afraid of being killed. Some of them walked for days to Liberia," said Annette Rehrl, a U.N. spokeswoman in Liberia.
Rioters in western Ivory Coast stole and burned massive amounts of food aid during the protests over a ruling by a U.N.-backed group mediating a years-long crisis in the divided West African nation. U.N staff left the region before the unrest ended Friday.
Rehrl said Wednesday that 10,000 refugees from Liberia, itself recovering from a civil war, were struggling in western Ivory Coast without aid from U.N. and other aid workers.
Last week's riots targeted the United Nations after mediators they support advised that the expired mandate of the nation's parliament should not be renewed. The lawmaking body was viewed as a crucial power base for President Laurent Gbagbo and his allies ordered youth activists into the streets.
Many Ivorians saw the riots as an attempt by Gbagbo allies to show they still hold popular support.
--