Ivorian president hits out at PM

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Ivorian Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny has been accused by President Laurent Gbagbo of acting seditiously for publicly criticising him.

Mr Gbagbo said he had sacked the head of state television for broadcasting a statement by Mr Banny.

In it the prime minister condemned the president's decision to reinstate three officials suspended in connection with illegally dumping toxic waste.

The blow is just the latest in a struggle between the two men.

On Monday a statement by the prime minister criticising the presidential decision was read out on the evening news.

Mr Banny, the internationally appointed prime minister, was responding to President Gbagbo's decision to reinstate three of his supporters who had been suspended following an inquiry into a toxic waste scandal that killed at least 10 people.

Shortly after the statement was read out, armed soldiers and policemen descended on the TV station and the statement was not re-broadcast.

The head of state television, Kebe Yacouba, was then replaced by presidential decree.

Divide

The tension between the president and the prime minister appears to be rising dramatically.

The dumping of toxic waste led to the government resigning

The recent United Nations resolution 1721, which is designed to drive the war-divided country to free and fair elections, attempted to give more power to the prime minister.

However, President Gbagbo said the resolution would not be carried out if it clashed with the Ivorian constitution.

Since then Ivory Coast has been waiting for a trial of strength between the president and prime minister.

Few would have expected it to come over the emotionally charged issue of the toxic waste scandal.