Offensive launched to dislodge mutineers

Ivorian government troops on Tuesday launched an offensive to dislodge mutineering soldiers from Bouake, 350 km north of the commercial capital, Abidjan, and Korhogo, 634 km north, as several sub-regional initiatives were announced to try to ease tension with neighbours. "Heavy shooting has been going on for several hours now," said a source in Bouake who spoke to IRIN on Tuesday afternoon. "We don't know what is going on because people are indoors." State radio reported on Tuesday morning that loyalist forces had entered Bouake. Other sources said military reinforcements had been beefed up near the town but there were fears for the safety of the Minister of Sport, Francois Amichia, who was still held by the mutineers. Sources from Ferkessedougou, 50 km northeast of Korhogo, told IRIN by telephone that fighting broke out between loyalist troops and mutineers in the town on Tuesday morning. The mutineers were moving towards Boundiali town, 100 km west of Korhogo, they said. "The rebel troops are swarming through the town but they are being attacked by government soldiers. The fighting is heavy," the sources added. French soldiers had secured Yamoussoukro airport, 100 km away, and were preparing to evacuate about 600 French nationals who were believed to be trapped in Bouake. Diplomats in Abidjan said the US was considering sending troops to ensure the safety of 160 American children, from infants to 12-year-olds, who were trapped in an international boarding school, along with 40 foreigners. The American broadcaster CNN reported that 200 US Special Forces members were expected to land by military air transport in Cote d'Ivoire on Thursday. Gabon has called a regional meeting, to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, on Thursday, to address the situation. The Presidents of Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Mali, Senegal and Togo, and King Mohammed VI are expected to attend, as well as representatives from France and the African Union, according to media reports. Diplomats told IRIN that one of the main concerns was that reprisals were being carried out in Cote d'Ivoire against Malians, Burkinabe and Liberians. Cote d'Ivoire has pointed fingers at neighbouring countries for supporting the mutiny. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also announced an extraordinary summit of regional heads of state, to be held in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday. It will be preceded by an ECOWAS foreign ministers meeting. "Cote d'Ivoire is undergoing serious political crisis following the attempted coup which has claimed many lives," ECOWAS said in a statement. "The heads of state and government will examine the situation prevailing in Cote d'Ivoire and contribute to the restoration of peace, stability and the return of constitutional order in that country." In Abidjan, calm had returned on Tuesday and most activities resumed but humanitarian sources said reprisals against foreigners were continuing in the suburbs and that more houses had been burned down. Preliminary assessments by humanitarian agencies were continuing and relief agencies had started to provide food, non-food items and accommodation for the displaced. The uprising in Cote d'Ivoire started on Thursday last week. The government said it was a coup attempt planned by former president General Robert Guei. Guei was among about 270 people killed as mutineers clashed with forces loyal to the government in various Ivorian towns and cities, but the mutineers remained in control of various towns in the north including Bouake and Korhogo.