The UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire says it has begun withdrawing non-essential staff from the troubled West African country, amid rising tensions following the Nov. 28 presidential run-off.

Sources of the 9,800-strong mission made the disclosure on Tuesday after Cote d'Ivoire extended the Saturday-to-Sunday curfew to Dec. 13 as uncertainties are expected in the worsening situation, where both candidates claim to have won the election and have a premier to form the government.

In the presidential run-off, incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and former prime minister and opposition leader Alassane Ouattara competed for the top office of the country.

Ouattara was claimed as the winner of the election by the electoral commission, while Gbagbo was named as the winner by the Constitutional Council which has the final say on the results of the polls.

Gbagbo has been sworn in as the new president of the west African country by the Constitutional Council, and Ouattara has also taken the oath of office as the president.

The international community is seriously concerned over the political chaos triggered by the election in Cote d'Ivoire. The African Union has sent former South African president Thabo Mbeki to mediate the crisis.

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