AT LEAST 14,000 people have fled the violence and political chaos in Ivory Coast, some walking for up to four days with little food to reach neighbouring Liberia, the UN refugee agency said. At least one child drowned while trying to cross a river.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for urgent deployment of an international force for Liberia, warning of a “humanitarian tragedy” in a war-ruined capital where fighting this week killed hundreds of trapped civilians.