News

More than 450,000 people have fled their homes because of the crisis in Ivory Coast, the UN refugee agency says.

Dead bodies were being eaten by dogs in the streets of the main city, Abidjan after recent fighting, a UNHCR spokeswoman told the BBC.

Alassane Ouattara, widely recognised as the winner of last year's poll, has gone to regional powerhouse Nigeria to get help ousting his rival.

Laurent Gbagbo refuses to cede power.

There are growing fears that the situation could descend into civil war.

Former rebel forces who support Mr Ouattara still control the north while most of the army remains loyal to Mr Gbagbo.