French forces rescue Japanese ambassador from Ivory Coast

French forces in Ivory Coast have rescued the Japanese ambassador Okamura Yoshifumi and seven other diplomats from the violence-torn capital Abidjan, France’s foreign minister said.

Alain Juppe told a senate hearing on the situation in Libya and Ivory Coast that Israel has also asked that France’s 1,600-strong Licorne force in Ivory Coast come to the aid of its diplomats in Abidjan.