French death toll in Ivory Coast attack rises to 4: Presidency

Paris: The number of French citizens killed in a jihadist attack on the Ivorian beach resort of Grand-Bassam has risen to four, the presidency said on Monday.

"The toll has risen because we now have four French victims," read a statement from President Francois Hollande's office after a telephone conversation with his Ivorian counterpart Alassane Ouattara.

Hollande confirmed that his foreign minister and interior minister would head to Abidjan tomorrow to show support to France's close ally.
Ivory Coast Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko said earlier that the overall death toll from the attack had climbed to 18, including three members of the special forces.

A total of 33 people were injured, 26 of whom are still in hospital.

"France will support Ivory Coast in its initiatives to fight terrorism and considers that cooperation between all the states threatened by terrorist groups, particularly in West Africa, must intensify more than ever," read the French statement