On Nov. 7, French forces seized strategic control of the largest city, commandeering airports and posting gunboats under bridges in the commercial capital, Abidjan.

The chaos began Nov. 6 when Cote d'Ivoire warplanes launched a surprise airstrike that killed nine French peacekeepers and a civilian American aid worker -- later calling it a mistake. France hit back within hours, wiping out Cote d'Ivoire's new air force -- two Sukhoi warplanes and at least three helicopter gunships -- on the ground.

The slain French soldiers were among 4,000 French peacekeepers and 6,000 U.N. troops in Cote d'Ivoire divided between the rebel north and loyalist south since civil war broke out in September 2002.

The Japan Times Weekly: Nov. 13, 2004
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