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Coup attempt fails, airport closed

    ABIDJAN

    An attempt by a group of armed men to topple President Laurent Gbagbo’s government in Cote d’Ivoire has been thwarted, Minister of Defence and Civil Protection Moise Lida Kouassi said on Monday. “The situation at this time is fully under control,” Lida Kouassi said.
    Minister of the Interior and Decentralisation Emile Boga Doudou said the attacks started on Sunday at 22:35 GMT. He said “these rebel forces” attacked the headquarters of the para-military gendarmerie and the presidency and occupied state radio and television.
    Neither official disclosed the identity of the attackers in the 10:00 GMT radio broadcast during which they spoke.
    Lida Kouassi said “the security forces intervened vigorously to free the television and radio stations”. Two gendarmes were killed, other members of the security forces were wounded and 15 of the assailants were captured. Appearing on television at around noon, Lida Kouassi said “a number” of the assailants were also killed.
    The government also announced on Monday that the Felix Houphouet Boigny airport had been closed following the coup attempt.
    [See separate item titled ‘COTE D’IVOIRE: Authorities report failure of coup attempt’]

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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