document: U.S. calls on all parties in Cote d'Ivoire to exercise restraint WASHINGTON , March 31 -LRB- Xinhua -RRB- - A U.S. senior diplomat on Thursday called on all parties in Cote d'Ivoire to '' `` exercise restraint '' '' and make the protection of civilians their '' `` highest priority . '' '' '' `` The people of the Cote d'Ivoire have already paid a very high price for democracy . We call upon both sides to ensure that civilians do not pay an even higher price in the future , '' '' said Johnnie Carson , Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs . He warned that '' `` those who choose not to heed this call '' '' will be held accountable for the '' `` atrocities and the human rights violations '' '' that they commit . Carson urged Laurent Gbagbo , the incumbent leader of Cote d' Ivoire , to seize the opportunity to '' `` step aside peacefully '' '' , and his supporters to '' `` lay down their arms and not to engage in urban conflict . '' '' Forces backing Cote d'Ivoire 's presidency claimant , Alassane Ouattara , on Thursday claimed to reach the gate of Abidjan after days of southward military advances . The United Nations troops in Cote d'Ivoire , who support the Ouattara camp , have taken control of Abidjan airport , media reports said on Thursday . Meanwhile , the Ouattara camp has given his presidential rival Gbagbo a 1900 GMT ultimatum to step down .
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