THE British government advised its citizens yesterday to leave Ivory Coast immediately because of the deteriorating security situation in the West African country.

The government, which said it would not be able to evacuate Britons who remain if unrest occurs in the civil war-torn country, also announced that it would suspend operations at its embassy in Ivory Coast on Friday. "This decision is mainly due to the uncertain security situation and our inability to protect staff or British nationals should there be another outbreak of violence," said Chris Mullin, the minister for Africa in the Foreign Office.

"But it also reflects the lack of progress in the peace process. Until all parties genuinely commit to finding a political solution, there is little point in us remaining. The risk is just too high," he said.

The Ivorian government and rebels it has fought since 2002 were preparing to go to South Africa for talks on Sunday aimed at resuscitating the flagging peace plan.

United Nations peacekeepers in Ivory Coast have reported a build-up of gunmen and ammunition along the west of a buffer zone they patrol, but they could not say whether government soldiers or militia were involved.

Northern-based Ivorian rebels this week charged president Laurent Gbagbo’s government with deploying fighters in preparation for new attacks.

Since a failed coup attempt in 2002, Ivory Coast has been divided by a UN-held "zone of confidence". The north of the country is in the hands of the rebels, and the south remains under government control.

A UN peacekeeping force of 6,000 is deployed throughout the country, and is supported by 4,000 French troops.