Click Here For France Tries to Defend Attack on Ivory Coast

France Tries to Defend Attack on Ivory Coast: "France defended itself Friday against accusations by Ivory Coast authorities and some Western evacuees that it used excessive force in protecting foreigners against violent mobs during five days of upheaval in its former West African colony.

Ivorian government forces withdrew from rebel positions Friday, easing fears of a resumption of all-out civil war, as France and other countries continued to fly out thousands of foreigners. "