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 .
extractive_keyphrases: highest priority people ouattara thursday presidential heed choose african affairs accountable laurent gbagbo conflict secretary warned violations atrocities democracy presidency claimant incumbent diplomat supporters abidjan media reports carson commit future protection cote called peacefully united march a us gbagbo 1900 gmt exercise restraint human opportunity even higher support engage ensure days xinhua seize parties civilians control make ultimatum pay arms lay down state
abstractive_keyphrases: d'ivoire held accountable washington march united nations thursday claimed presidency claimant alassane ouattara johnnie carson assistant secretary ouattara camp commit carson laurent gbagbo the incumbent leader thursday called urban conflict forces backing cote d'ivoire thursday meanwhile human rights violations abidjan airport media senior diplomat step aside peacefully