Ivory Coast: More than 100 bodies found, says UN

The UN said the bodies had been found in the west of the country, in apparent ethnic killings.

Internationally recognised President Alassane Ouattara has been battling incumbent Laurent Gbagbo, who is now blockaded in a bunker in Abidjan.

Meanwhile, the EU says it may ease sanctions after a plea by Mr Ouattara.

The UN has certified Mr Ouattara as the winner of November's run-off vote for president but Mr Gbagbo has refused to cede power.

Mr Ouattara's forces have swept down from the north over the past two weeks but much of the main city of Abidjan is dominated by Gbagbo supporters and days of fighting has plunged it into crisis.

'Liberian mercenaries'

Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said its team had found more than 100 bodies in the past 24 hours across three locations.

"All the incidents appear to be ethnically motivated," he said.

Mr Colville said that 40 bodies had been found in Blolequin, west of the town of Duekoue, adding that the "perpetrators appear to be Liberian mercenaries".

He said: "The team also went to a nearby town of Guiglo, where they saw more than 60 bodies."

He said some victims had been burned alive and others had been thrown down a well.

The announcement follows reports of separate mass killings last week in Duekoue, following its capture by pro-Ouattara forces.

Each side blamed the other for those killings, which the International Committee of the Red Cross says claimed at least 800 lives; Kazinform cites BBC News.

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