The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to deploy 2,000 additional peacekeepers to Ivory Coast, where the incumbent president has refused to give up his position to the man internationally recognized as the West African country's legitimate leader. Ivory Coast has seen renewed violence and increased tension since the disputed presidential election in November. The new U.N. forces, to be deployed through June, would increase the U.N. peacekeeping mission there to almost 12,000. The Security Council also extended the temporary deployment of 400 troops and 100 police officers from March 31 until June 30. It said three infantry companies and two utility helicopters from Liberia should remain in Ivory Coast for four more weeks, and it authorized the transfer of three armed helicopters from Liberia to Ivory Coast for four weeks.
