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Ivory Coast mutiny: Government announces deal with soldiers | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Ivory Coast government says it has reached a deal with soldiers involved in a four-day revolt over pay. | |
Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi appeared on state TV to announce a settlement had been reached. | |
But only minutes later two spokesmen for the rebels told Reuters there was no agreement. Mr Donwahi gave few details of the accord. | |
The dispute, over what the mutineers say are unpaid bonuses, began on Friday and spread through major cities. | |
Defying a government order to lay down their weapons, the soldiers opened fire in four cities on Monday. | |
Shots rang out near the presidential palace in the main city, Abidjan, the second city, Bouaké, and in areas vital to the cocoa industry. | |
The mutineers helped the president take office in 2011. The former rebels make up about 8,400 of Ivory Coast's 22,000-strong army. | |
Announcing the putative deal, Mr Donwahi said: "After talks, an agreement has been reached on ways of ending the crisis. | |
"As a result, we appeal to all soldiers to free up the corridors (town entrances), return to barracks and respect peace". | |
Rejecting the latest government announcement, two spokesmen for the rebel soldiers told Reuters they wanted more money. | |
One, Sgt Seydou Kone said: "They proposed five million CFA francs (each) to be paid tomorrow. But we want seven million to be paid in one payment and immediately." | |
It is unclear how many of the soldiers the men are representing. | |
Pro-government forces had backed off from advancing towards Bouaké, the epicentre of the mutiny, apparently because they want to avoid a fight, the BBC's Tamasin Ford reported earlier from Abidjan. | |
On Sunday, armed forces' chief of staff General Sékou Touré vowed to end the mutiny, but the mutineers said they would fight back if loyalist troops intervened. | |
Mutineers at the army headquarters in Abidjan's financial district, near the presidential palace, had been shooting in the air, forcing schools and offices to shut, our reporter says. | |
Gunfire was also heard at the Akouédo barracks, in a suburb where many middle-class Ivorians and expats live, she says. | Gunfire was also heard at the Akouédo barracks, in a suburb where many middle-class Ivorians and expats live, she says. |
Pro-government forces responded by closing roads in the city, while French troops were deployed to guard French-owned transport firm Bolloré, a major investor in Ivory Coast. | |
Sustained gunfire also broke out at the entrance and centre of Bouaké, which for many years was the main rebel-held city. | Sustained gunfire also broke out at the entrance and centre of Bouaké, which for many years was the main rebel-held city. |
One person was killed by a stray bullet on Sunday after mutinous troops seized control of Bouaké. | |
Other areas hit by unrest include San Pedro, the biggest cocoa exporting city in the world, and Daloa, a major trading hub in Ivory Coast's cocoa belt. | Other areas hit by unrest include San Pedro, the biggest cocoa exporting city in the world, and Daloa, a major trading hub in Ivory Coast's cocoa belt. |
Cocoa is the West African state's main foreign currency earner. | Cocoa is the West African state's main foreign currency earner. |
The mutiny has raised fears of a resurgence of the violence seen during Ivory Coast's 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011. | The mutiny has raised fears of a resurgence of the violence seen during Ivory Coast's 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011. |
Pro-Ouattara forces from Bouaké swept into Abidjan at the time, helping Mr Ouattara take office after his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat in elections. | Pro-Ouattara forces from Bouaké swept into Abidjan at the time, helping Mr Ouattara take office after his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat in elections. |
Many of the rebels were rewarded for their backing by being given jobs in the army. | Many of the rebels were rewarded for their backing by being given jobs in the army. |