France joins U.N. action in Ivory Coast

(Reuters) - French helicopters fired on military camps and armoured vehicles in its former colony of Ivory Coast Monday after President Nicolas Sarkozy said he had authorised the involvement in response to a U.N. request.
Sarkozy's Elysee Palace office released a statement saying the operation aimed to neutralize heavy weapons belonging to troops loyal to Laurent Gbagbo who are fighting forces supporting Alassane Ouattara's rival claim to the presidency.
"The Secretary General of the United Nations requested the support of French forces in these operations," said the statement, which added Sarkozy had responded in line with a U.N. mandate to protect civilians.
France has close to 12,000 nationals in the world's top cocoa producer and said Monday it was sending in an extra 150 soldiers from Gabon to bring the number of French troops in its Licorne force there to 1,650.
Several dozen pro-Gbago protesters broke windows on Paris's Champs Elysees avenue shortly after news of the Ivory Coast operation emerged and about 40 were arrested, police said.
"Licorne (French forces) helicopters opened fire in support of ONUCI (U.N.) operations," said French army spokesman Thierry Burkhard.
"Resources were deployed against several targets -- heavy weapons in camps and a group of armoured cars equipped with heavy guns and rocket-launchers."Continued