The Ivory Coast called on the United Nations to set up a peacekeeping operation, instead of leaving the job to West African and French forces. If all Ivorian parties took the necessary steps to show irreversible progress by February 4, UN secretary-general Kofi Annan would recommend a force of 6,240 peacekeeping troops (including 200 military observers) be sent to the Ivory Coast. This plan would incorporate the 1,500 West African peacekeeping troops already in the country but would exclude 4,000 French peacekeepers, who would work alongside the UN force under separate command. This is despite the misgivings of the United States have been wary of approving any new peacekeeping venture in Ivory Coast because of the cost. While UN peacekeeping missions are financed by all 191 UN member countries, the United States pays 27 per cent of the peacekeeping budget. 

At least one person was killed and ten wounded, when a rogue group tried to break into a bank in the rebel stronghold of Bouake triggered a 2 a.m. shootout with rebels defending the building. Heavily armed West African troops later deployed around the building. - Adam Geibel