The deportation of rejected asylum seekers from Switzerland to the Ivory Coast has been suspended owing to the current political crisis there.

Some 170 people have been killed in Ivory Coast over the last five weeks.

Fresh clashes yesterday left a further three dead.

The Federal Migration Office said the decision not to send back asylum seekers was made five weeks ago in the wake of unrest following the presidential elections.

In November last year, the asylum applications of 122 Ivorians were being examined.