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Ivory Coast mutiny deal reached, says president, but unclear if unrest is over Ivory Coast defence minister freed by mutinous soldiers
(about 5 hours later)
President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast says he has reached an agreement with soldiers who have mutinied. Mutinous soldiers in Ivory Coast have released the country's defence minister after detaining him for two hours in a standoff over pay.
He said he had taken into account their demands over pay and conditions and asked troops to return to barracks. Alain Richard Donwahi was held in the city of Bouake by troops who rejected the terms of a deal announced by President Alassane Ouattara.
But some soldiers then besieged the defence minister in the city of Bouake, although they later let him leave. Mr Ouattara said he had taken into account demands over pay and conditions and asked troops to return to barracks.
The mutiny began there on Friday and spread to the commercial capital, Abidjan, where soldiers overtook the army headquarters. But it remained unclear if the mutiny was over.
They fired in the air as they took control of the base in the Abidjan's Plateau district. The mutiny began in Bouake, the country's second largest city, on Friday and spread to the commercial capital, Abidjan, where soldiers overtook the army headquarters.
In his statement late on Sunday, the president said: "I confirm that I have agreed to take into account the demands of the soldiers over bonuses and better working conditions." Following talks between Mr Donwahi and the mutineers, Mr Ouattara announced the deal in a televised address.
Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi had travelled to Bouake, Ivory Coast's second city, to discuss the protesters' demands. "I confirm that I have agreed to take into account the demands of the soldiers over bonuses and better working conditions," he said, without giving details.
But a group of soldiers trapped Mr Donwahi in a local official's home in the city, demanding to know when they would be paid and how much. "I would like to say that this manner of making demands is not appropriate. It tarnishes the image of our country after all our efforts to revive the economy."
Several hours later, they allowed him to leave. He and some other people who were with him went directly to the airport and left the city. Despite the announcement, some of the mutineers opened fire, trapping Mr Donwahi and dozens others in a local official's home. They were only allowed to leave several hours later.
Earlier on Saturday, shooting was heard at the military base in Akouedo, on the eastern edge of Abidjan, which is home to parachute commandos that are considered loyal to Mr Ouattara. Earlier, shooting was heard at the military base in Akouedo, on the eastern edge of Abidjan, which is home to parachute commandos who are considered loyal to Mr Ouattara.
Similar protests were also reported in the cities of Man, Daloa, Daoukro, Odienne and Korhogo.Similar protests were also reported in the cities of Man, Daloa, Daoukro, Odienne and Korhogo.
The BBC's Alex Duval Smith in Ivory Coast says the mutiny has brought back memories of Ivory Coast's 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011. The BBC's Alex Duval Smith in Abidjan says the mutiny has brought back memories of Ivory Coast's 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011.
Some of the mutineers were thought to be former rebels who joined the army after the conflict.Some of the mutineers were thought to be former rebels who joined the army after the conflict.
The rebels swept into Abidjan from Bouake in 2011, helping Mr Ouattara take power after his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo - now on trial at the International Criminal Court - refused to accept defeat in elections the previous year.The rebels swept into Abidjan from Bouake in 2011, helping Mr Ouattara take power after his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo - now on trial at the International Criminal Court - refused to accept defeat in elections the previous year.