Nigeria has ordered the immediate evacuation of families of diplomats serving in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, to Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Odein Ajumogobia said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the development, was due to the escalation of tension and clashes between supporters of President -Elect Alassane Outarra,and incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo.

"In line with the extant policy on the safety of the lives of Nigerian diplomats in crisis-torn posts, the families of officers serving in the Nigerian mission in Abidjan have been moved to Accra-Ghana," Ajumogobia said.

The minister added that the Nigerian Mission in Abidjan remained open but the operations of the mission have been reduced to essential services.

Gbagbo and Outarra were each sworn in as president after the recent elections in which the electoral body declared the later winner, but the Constitutional Court said Gbagbo won.

The development has been condemned by ECOWAS, the UN, the AU and the international community, all of whom have asked Gbagbo to vacate office for Outarra or face international isolation.

The United States has since imposed a travel ban on Gbagbo, his relatives and supporters.