20101224
reuters

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Netherlands said on Friday it had sent a naval ship to the Ivory Coast which could evacuate Dutch and other European citizens if post-election violence worsened in the West African nation.

The Dutch defence ministry said the French government had requested assistance from the Netherlands, which agreed to despatch the ship, the Amsterdam.

While the Dutch foreign ministry said the ship's mission was connected to the situation in Ivory Coast, the French defence ministry denied any such link.

Dutch defence ministry spokeswoman Marloes Visser said the Dutch ship would be on standby to help in any evacuation, but stressed the main task was to bring food and fuel supplies to the French.

"At the request of the French we will put these supplies on board and bring them to the French ships," Visser said.

"We can support the evacuation of EU citizens," Visser said.

"At this moment there is no planning of an evacuation, there are only preparations because you have to be prepared for every situation that can occur and evacuation is one of them."

"They can evacuate people on board or give some medical support ... there are a lot of possibilities."