At least eight civilians killed in Ivory Coast attack: UN

ABIDJAN: Eight civilians died in southwestern Ivory Coast in the attack that killed seven UN peacekeepers, the United Nations said on Saturday.

"As per our information, at least eight civilians were killed, including a woman," Anouk Desgroseilliers, a spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

She added that Friday's simultaneous raids on several villages near the town of Tai close to the Liberian border sparked an "immediate" exodus.

"Hundreds of people have arrived in Tai and one can imagine that thousands of others are on the road," she said. "Thirty-five families have crossed the border" into Liberia, she added.

The UN peacekeepers from Niger killed in an ambush on Friday had been patrolling in an area between two villages after hearing rumours of an imminent attack on communities in the region.

Ivory Coast's west is by far the most unstable part of the country and has been plagued by deadly attacks since a political and military crisis that started at the end of 2010 and left some 3,000 people dead throughout the country.

The UN peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast was first deployed in 2004 and currently counts more than 10,000 uniformed personnel. (AFP)