20110203
Xinhua
ADDIS ABABA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) on Wednesday extended the mandate of the high level panel set up to deal with the situation in Cote d' Ivoire for a month.

Ramtane Lamamra, AU commissioner for peace and security, told journalists after a meeting at the AUC headquarters in Addis Ababa that the council has extended the mandate of the panel for a month to enable it to accomplish its tasks.

"The council noted that the panel needs some supplementary time to accomplish its mandate therefore it has accepted to extend the mandate of the high level panel to allow it to complete its work and to present report (to) the Peace and Security Council at the level of heads of states and governments within the month of March, " said Lamamra.

"The council condemns all acts whoever they come from against the civilian population and expresses its serious concern with the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Cote d' Ivoire; in this regard the council calls on all Ivorian parties to show maximum restraint and to refrain from any action that could further complicate the already difficult situation in the country," he added.