France moves to quell Ivory Coast violence

Machete-waving mobs went on the rampage in Ivory Coast’s largest cities today after a day of sudden ground and air clashes between forces of France and its former colony.

France’s military responded in force, sending helicopters to pluck trapped expatriates from buildings as other French helicopters and armoured vehicles moved to confront the mobs, lobbing volleys of tear gas and percussion grenades that sent rioters fleeing.