Information Minister warns criminals

Following Wednesday’s agreement with Cote d’Ivoire’s Conseil National de Salut Public (CNSP), soldiers who staged protests on Tuesday and Wednesday have returned to barracks but “certain former soldiers and delinquents in military uniform ... have been disregarding orders given by the security forces,” Information Minister Captain Henri Sama said in a communique. According to the communique, published on Friday in ‘Fraternite Matin’, this “created some friction between these elements and the security forces”. Sama warned those responsible that “we would not hesitate to act”. On Wednesday, Sama had stated that the CNSP would seek to guarantee the safety of the population and had warned any ill-intentioned persons that “in the event of resistance, the security forces are authorised to use their firearms”. That warning was addressed to “plunderers and robbers or any soldier who has not made arangements to return to barracks”. About three soldiers were shot dead during efforts by the security forces to disarm the protesting soldiers on Wednesday, according to the authorities. Two other people also died as a result of the disturbances.