United Nations (UN) pacifists, propped up by French troops’ contingent, received a mandate from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to take the “necessary measures” to end the use of heavy weapons against the inhabitants of the besieged Ivory Coast city of Abidjan.

This after the post-election violence escalated Monday as the forces of globally- recognized president Alassane Ouattara pushed toward Laurent Gbagbo's few remaining throttleholds with the help of UN defense forces.

Upon UN’s request, France participated in the assault of the presidential palace and Gbagbo’s residence in the city of Abdijan. UNOCI, the UN mission in the Ivory Coast reported service helicopters fired on these two military campgrounds.

Ablazed with Gbagbo’s denial to concede authority, his loyalists intensified their use of violent weapons such as mortars, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades against the city dwellers in Abidjan.

In an interview, Alain Le Roy who is chief of Ban Ki-moon’s peace council, furthered "They have also attacked UNOCI patrols that have been dispatched to protect civilians and convoys transporting the wounded in Abidjan, resulting several more injured peacekeepers.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon cleared as the operation to neutralize Mr. Gbagbo’s heavy weapons is ongoing with the help of French troops; the U.N. mission is not a party to the conflict. It is, rather, acting in self-defense and in accordance with its mandate to protect civilians.