Government allege neighbours’ involvement

The Ivorian government has said that soldiers who attempted a coup on Sunday had received the backing of some neighbouring countries.

Government spokesman Mamadou Koulibaly said in a nationwide broadcast of a news conference on Monday that Abidjan would consider severing diplomatic links with countries implicated in the putsch. He did not name the countries but said the attackers included non-Ivorians.

Two loyal gendarmes were killed and several wounded. The government gave no casualty figures for the attackers but Defence and Interior Minister Emile Boga Doudou said 31 had been arrested. They included soldiers who in September 2000 attacked the home of military leader General Robert Guei.
He was later overthrown in a popular uprising.
Sunday’s attackers - who according to the state-owned daily
‘Fraternite-Matin’ numbered 1,000 - struck simultaneously at the state-owned radio and Television stations, the country’s largest gendarmerie camp at Agban, and the home of President Laurent Gbagbo. He had earlier been spirited away to his village in the middle of the country.

Loyal gendarmerie troops regained control by midday on Monday. That evening, the government ordered a three-day curfew from 9.00 p.m. to 6 a.m. (21:00 to 06:00 GMT), which may be extended beyond Wednesday.

Foreign reaction has been swift.
France, Mali and Nigeria have condemned the attempted coup. South Africa’s Ministry and Department for Foreign Affairs, on Monday expressed concern and urged all parties to work towards a peaceful solution to the country’s political problems.