Amnesty International calls for truce in Ivory Coast

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, July 28 (UPI) -- Amnesty International says some 500,000 refugees who fled their homes in Ivory Coast because of fighting over its presidential election are afraid to go home.

The BBC reported Thursday that militia loyal to new President Alassane Ouattara haven't disbanded and continue to intimidate supporters of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo.

Gbagbo refused to cede power after last year's presidential election, which the United Nations said was fairly conducted. Gbagbo is now under house arrest; fighting between troops loyal to the two left hundreds of people dead, officials said.

While fighting between troops loyal to the two presidential opponents ended about 90 days ago, members of ethnic groups who supported Gbagbo said they are still intimidated by Ouattara's troops.

About 150,000 refugees were living across the border in Liberia, the report said.

The United Nations has said about 50,000 people returned to Ivory Coast from Liberia, but many must rebuild homes destroyed or looted in fighting.

The U.N. said in some parts of western Ivory Coast as much as 75 percent of the villages remained uninhabited.