Aug 6, 2012

Deadly Ivory Coast Army Attack

At least six soldiers have been killed in an attack by gunmen on an army base in Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan.

Gunfire was initially heard at around 04:00 (04:00 GMT) in the Riviera district of Abidjan, and broke out again sporadically several hours later.

This follows the killing of five soldiers on Sunday in an attack on a police station and an army checkpoint in Yopougon to the east of the city.

Shooting was also reported at the weekend in Abengourou in the east.

Four bodies were seen at the entrance of a building at the Akouedo military camp alongside blood-splattered floor and walls, an AFP correspondent reported. The door to the building had been knocked down. Two other bodies were seen at a sentry post and at another gate.

Residents living in the area heard several hours of gunfire and there is now a heavily military deployment in the area, while UN peacekeepers have been posted at key junctions.

"Akouedo was attacked from 03:30 (03:30 GMT) in the morning. The guards were able to react. The situation is under control," said the head of the national assembly, Guillaume Soro, on his Twitter account.

"The attackers just want to give the impression that the security situation in Ivory Coast is precarious," he added.

Yopougon district suffered some of the heaviest fighting during the battle for control of Abidjan last year following the disputed elections.

Defence Minister Paul Koffi has told AFP the Yopougon attack was an apparent bid to free people who had been arrested the previous day.

Some 3,000 people were killed in a dispute after the November 2010 poll.

Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat to President Alassane Ouattara, who eventually ousted his rival with the help of former rebel forces, the UN and former colonial power France.

Mr Gbagbo is currently in The Hague, awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity.

Source: BBC News  

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