The United States has strongly condemned the attacks on civilians in Ivory Coast by the forces loyal to its strongman Laurent Gbagbo and demanded an immediate end to the brutality there. In a statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, Gbagbo’s claim that he represents the Ivorian people belies his persistent refusal to participate in the peaceful transition recommended by the African Union. He had lost the recently held presidential elections there but refused to step down. The US is providing humanitarian assistance to Ivory Coast civilians, including a 4.5 million dollar food aid contribution to the United Nations World Food Program in the African nation and a 7.5 million dollar contribution for refugees in neighboring Liberia.