IVORY COAST: SOLDIERS BRING COUNTRY UNDER CONTROL WRAP

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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French/Nat XFA The Ivory Coast Government says that soldiers loyal to the newly elected president have brought the country under control following a coup attempt. At about 4am (0400GMT), mutinous soldiers seized control of state broadcast facilities, calling on comrades to join in an apparent attempt to take power in this West African nation. State radio, which had earlier gone off the air, then began playing the national anthem and a man who did not identify himself read a brief statement. Government officials later said they had retaken control of state television and radio, and that they had put down an attempted coup. The defence and interior ministers went on state radio to reassure the population that the attempt had failed. But sporadic gunfire continued in the streets of Abidjan, interrupting what normally would be the Monday morning rush hour. The streets were nearly empty in much of the city, apart from soldiers brandishing guns. Two bodies, one in civilian clothes and the other stripped to his underwear, lay by the side of a highway on the edge of downtown. Officials have stated that a number of assailants were killed, but did not specify figures. Two paramilitary officers were also killed and many others injured, Defence Minister Lida Kouassi said on state television. The identity and strength of those involved in the coup attempt is a mystery, they did not give their identity during their radio broadcast. But Kouassi has stated that fifteen people have been arrested and security forces were searching for more suspects. He did not identify the suspects. Prime Minister Affi N'Guessan earlier identified the attackers as soldiers who were not wearing their uniforms, an admission that internal political allegiances within the military could be the cause of this latest outbreak of violence. The West African country has been plagued by instability since a coup in December 1999 that brought General Robert Guei to power and shook the country's reputation for stability. It was followed by two major military uprisings, tumultuous elections and a brutal wave of killings. General Guei was ousted by Laurent Gbagbo after elections in October, but there has been repeated speculation that he is trying to stage a comeback. But President Laurent Gbagbo's triumph rapidly disintegrated into political and ethnic fighting between his supporters and those of rival opposition leader, Alassane Dramane Ouattara. The army is divided and there are rumours that some soldiers remain loyal to General Guei. There are also reports of political and ethnic fighting between Gbagbo's supporters and those of Ouattara. Ouattara, a Muslim, was barred from running for president and later for parliament because of questions about his nationality. He insists that he and his parents are Ivorian. Street violence, sparked by Ouattara's exclusion, shook Abidjan again this December, and tensions persist between Gbagbo's mainly southern, Christian followers and Ouattara's mostly northern, Muslim supporters. At least 200 people have been killed since President Gbagbo took office in October. SOUNDBITE: (French) "We don't know what's happening. Some people say the armed forces are acting because its their rights that have been effected. But I really don't know what's been going on." SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/fc8aa556f73a1838df5750ba4285336d Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork