U.S. embassy to pull non-core staff from Abidjan

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (Reuters) -- The U.S. embassy in Abidjan has decided to evacuate all non-essential staff and the families of staff members from Ivory Coast because of political unrest, an embassy official said Thursday.

"We are drawing down to a core of people essential to running the mission -- a large core, dozens of people," the official said.

Non-essential personnel will leave by commercial flights if possible or by commercial charter flights.

Abidjan's international airport was closed Thursday because of the unrest but the official said the control tower was always manned, so special planes could be brought in if necessary.

The U.S. embassy is the second biggest in Abidjan after that of France, the former colonial power.

The French embassy has told its nationals to stay indoors.

"The embassy believes the situation is critical throughout the territory of Ivory Coast. It asks its nationals to stay at home," it said in a statement.

Mass protests forced army ruler General Robert Guei from power Wednesday.

Thursday, supporters of president-elect Laurent Gbagbo clashed with rival political supporters demanding a rerun of last Sunday's election.

At least 85 people have been killed around the country since the demonstrations began Tuesday.

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