Alleged coup plotters in court

The trial of armed men accused of attempting to overthrow Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo in early 2001 opened on Monday in the principal court in the economic capital, Abidjan.

The first day concentrated mainly on procedures and exceptions to be followed during the course of the trial, the pro-state newspaper Fraternite Matin reported. Lawyers for the defence called for General Mathias Doue, the country's army chief of staff, to appear as a witness.

The 13 men who appeared in court on Monday are accused of taking part in the 7-8 January coup attempt during which around 1,000 men struck simultaneously at the state-owned radio and television stations, the country's largest gendarmerie camp and Gbagbo's home, Fraternite Matin reported. Two gendarmes were killed and several wounded during the unrest.

The trial, which will pass judgement on a total of 28 alleged coup makers, is due to end on 24 June.

The attempt to oust Gbagbo had been the latest in a long line of political upheavals that beset Cote d'Ivoire since the first successful coup in December 1999 when former army chief of staff, General Robert Guei, overthrew former president Henri Konan Bedie. A period of military rule followed and presidential elections in October 2000 were marked by violent street protests between supporters of Guei's junta, opposition members and the security forces. Guei, who declared himself head of state, was forced out by demonstrations allowing Gbagbo, the real winner of the elections, to be sworn in.