Awwal 25, 1432 / April 29, 2011, SPA -- The European Union has dropped an asset freeze against an Ivory Coast oil company and five banks, it said Friday, in a further easing of sanctions against the country, dpa reportd. Restrictive measures were first imposed to pressure former leader Laurent Gbagbo to step down, after his challenger Alassane Outtara defeated him in a November presidential poll, according to internationally-certified results. The restrictions were first eased on April 8, with a lifting of sanctions on Ivory Coast's cocoa industry - which accounts for the country's biggest export. Friday's decision affects the National Petroleum Operations Company of Côte d'Ivoire, National Investment Bank, Agricultural Credit Bank, Versus Bank, Caisse d'Epargne de Cote d'Ivoire and Banque de l'Habitat de Côte d'Ivoirem the bloc's secretariat said. This was done to support the country's economic recovery, the EU council said. The sanctions are to be dropped as of Saturday.
