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Ivory Coast mutiny: Shooting in Abidjan and Bouaké Ivory Coast mutiny: Shooting in Abidjan and Bouaké
(about 2 hours later)
Heavy gunfire has erupted in Ivory Coast's two biggest cities, as a mutiny in the army enters its fourth day. Mutinous soldiers have opened fire in Ivory Coast's two biggest cities, defying a government order to lay down their weapons.
The mutineers blocked roads outside a barracks in an affluent neighbourhood of Abidjan, the commercial capital, a BBC reporter in the city says. The mutineers blocked roads outside a barracks in an affluent neighbourhood of Abidjan, the commercial capital.
Troops loyal to the government are heading for the second city, Bouaké, where shooting has also been heard. Pro-government forces are heading for the second city, Bouaké, where shooting has erupted for a fifth day in a row.
Armed forces' chief of staff General Sékou Touré has vowed to end the mutiny, triggered by a pay dispute. The mutineers, who helped the president take office in 2011, have been locked in a pay dispute with the government.
Armed forces' chief of staff General Sékou Touré has vowed to end the mutiny.
In a statement on Sunday, Gen Touré said that many of the mutinous soldiers had listened to earlier calls for them to stand down.In a statement on Sunday, Gen Touré said that many of the mutinous soldiers had listened to earlier calls for them to stand down.
But the operation had been launched because some soldiers were continuing to disobey orders, he added. But an operation to end a mutiny had been launched because some soldiers were continuing to disobey orders, he added.
The mutineers have vowed to fight back, if loyalist troops intervene.The mutineers have vowed to fight back, if loyalist troops intervene.
Gunfire has been heard at the Akouédo barracks, in a suburb where many middle-class Ivorians and expats live, the BBC's Tamasin Ford in Abidjan says Fears of a military standoff : Tamasin Ford, BBC News, Abidjan
This is all about the former rebels, now integrated into the army, who had fought for years to bring President Alassane Ouattara to power. They brought Ivory Coast to a standstill in January when they launched uprisings across the country claiming they were due back pay and bonuses.
The government gave in to their demands and they received their first instalment at the end of the month.
Then in a surprise move on national television on Thursday night, a spokesman for the former rebels apologised, dropping their demands for the rest of the money.
This was clearly news to the protesting soldiers. It is not clear why their spokesman dropped the demand but we know the government is struggling financially. With both sides saying they are not prepared to negotiate, there are fears of a military standoff.
Gunfire has been heard at the Akouédo barracks, in a suburb where many middle-class Ivorians and expats live, the BBC's Tamasin Ford in Abidjan says.
Shots have also heard from the Gallieni camp in the centre of the city, AFP news agency reports.
In Bouaké, the epicentre of the mutiny, sustained gunfire broke out at the entrance and centre of the city, Reuters news agency reports.
The government is running short of money because of plummeting cocoa prices, making it difficult for it to meet the demands of the mutineers, our reporter adds.The government is running short of money because of plummeting cocoa prices, making it difficult for it to meet the demands of the mutineers, our reporter adds.
This has raised fears of a resurgence of the violence seen during Ivory Coast's 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011.This has raised fears of a resurgence of the violence seen during Ivory Coast's 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011.
Many of the mutineers in January are former rebels who joined the army after the conflict. The mutineers are former rebels who were integrated into the army after the conflict.
They had helped President Alassane Ouattara take office in 2010 after his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat in elections. They had swept into Abidjan from their northern stronghold of Bouaké in 2010, helping President Alassane Ouattara take office after his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat in elections.
They first launched a munity in January and forced the government to pay them about $8,000 (£6,200) each in bonuses which they said was owed to them. The former rebels first launched a munity in January and forced the government to pay them about $8,000 (£6,200) each in bonuses which they said was owed to them.
They were due to receive a further payment this month and several thousands mutineers were unhappy they were not consulted when on Thursday, a spokesman for the group said they would drop their demands for the remaining money.
The government has said it will not negotiate with the disgruntled soldiers.The government has said it will not negotiate with the disgruntled soldiers.
Ivory Coast is the world's biggest cocoa producer, and it is the West African state's main foreign currency earner.Ivory Coast is the world's biggest cocoa producer, and it is the West African state's main foreign currency earner.