173 die in Ivory Coast stand-off after disputed poll

UNITED Nations human rights officials said yesterday at least 173 people have been killed in the Ivory Coast in the past week during the fragile West African state’s post-election crisis.

The report to the UN Human Rights Council came as Ivorian strongman Laurent Gbagbo came under mounting pressure from world powers to step down.

UN staff have been able to confirm allegations of 173 killings and 90 cases of torture or ill treatment in the past week, UN deputy human rights chief Kyung-wha Kang told ambassadors in Geneva.