Obama releases aid to Ivory Coast

WASHINGTON, March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama announced he was making $12 million available to help address unexpected and urgent humanitarian needs in Ivory Coast.

A political impasse simmering since November is pushing Ivory Coast closer to civil war. November elections were meant to unite a country divided by civil war in 2002.

Obama said in a White House statement that it was "important to the national interest" to offer no more than $12.6 million to meet "unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs" in Ivory Coast.

Fighting between forces loyal to incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and opposition fighters is forcing thousands of Ivorian refugees across the border into Liberia. Gbagbo refuses to step down despite a U.N. Security Council resolution recognizing Alassane Ouattara as the winner of the November election.

At least five women were killed by forces loyal to Gbagbo last week as they participated in demonstrations in support of Ouattara.

British Foreign Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham said this week he was "deeply concerned" by the level of violence in Ivory Coast.

Most of the economic activity in the world's top cocoa-producing nation is at a standstill and the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning advising citizens to remain vigilant in the country.