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Ivory Coast mutiny: Shooting in Abidjan, Bouaké and other cities Ivory Coast mutiny: Government announces deal with soldiers
(about 3 hours later)
Mutinous soldiers have opened fire in four big cities in Ivory Coast, defying a government order to lay down their weapons. The Ivory Coast government says it has reached a deal with soldiers involved in a four-day revolt over pay.
Shots rang out near the presidential palace in the main city, Abidjan, the second city, Bouaké, and in cities vital to the cocoa industry. Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi appeared on state TV to announce a settlement had been reached.
Banks across Ivory Coast, the world's biggest cocoa producer, are shut. But only minutes later two spokesmen for the rebels told Reuters there was no agreement. Mr Donwahi gave few details of the accord.
The mutineers, who helped the president take office in 2011, have been locked in a pay dispute with the government. The dispute, over what the mutineers say are unpaid bonuses, began on Friday and spread through major cities.
The former rebels make up about 8,400 of Ivory Coast's 22,000-strong army. Defying a government order to lay down their weapons, the soldiers opened fire in four cities on Monday.
Pro-government forces have backed off from advancing towards Bouaké, the epicentre of the mutiny, apparently because they want to avoid a fight, reports the BBC's Tamasin Ford from Abidjan. Shots rang out near the presidential palace in the main city, Abidjan, the second city, Bouaké, and in areas vital to the cocoa industry.
On Sunday, armed forces' chief of staff General Sékou Touré vowed to end the mutiny. 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.
An operation had been launched because some soldiers were continuing to disobey orders, he said. Announcing the putative deal, Mr Donwahi said: "After talks, an agreement has been reached on ways of ending the crisis.
The mutineers said they would fight back if loyalist troops intervened. "As a result, we appeal to all soldiers to free up the corridors (town entrances), return to barracks and respect peace".
Fears of a military confrontation: Tamasin Ford, BBC News, Abidjan Rejecting the latest government announcement, two spokesmen for the rebel soldiers told Reuters they wanted more money.
This is all about the former rebels, now integrated into the army, who fought for years to bring President Alassane Ouattara to power. They brought Ivory Coast to a standstill in January when they launched their mutiny claiming they were due back pay and bonuses from that time. 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."
The government gave in to their demands, promising them $15,500 (£12,000) each. It has paid them $6,500, but not the remaining $9,500, which had been promised at the end of May. It is unclear how many of the soldiers the men are representing.
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. 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.
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 confrontation. 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.
The mutineers have now changed their demand to severance pay, as they realise they cannot stay in the army after this. 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.
Mutineers at the army headquarters in Abidjan's financial district, near the presidential palace, have 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.
The mutinous soldiers spilled out on to the roads, causing panic, our reporter adds. 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.
Pro-government forces have responded by closing roads in the city, while French troops have been 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. 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.
"The soldiers are in the streets on foot and on motorbikes. They're shooting in the air," Reuters news agency quoted resident Aka Marcel as saying.
It is unclear what impact the unrest will have on the cocoa industry.
Cocoa is the West African state's main foreign currency earner.Cocoa is the West African state's main foreign currency earner.
The government is already running short of money because of plummeting cocoa prices, making it difficult for it to meet the demands of the mutineers, our reporter says.
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.