Mutinous soldiers have opened fire in three big cities in Ivory Coast, defying a government order to lay down their weapons.

Gunfire has been heard near the presidential palace in the main city, Abidjan, the second city, Bouaké, and Daloa in the cocoa-growing west.

Pro-government forces are heading for Bouake, the epicentre of the mutiny.

The mutineers, who helped the president take office in 2011, have been locked in a pay dispute with the government.

The former rebels make up about 8,400 of the Ivory Coast’s 22,000-strong army.

Armed forces’ chief of staff General Sékou Touré has vowed to end the mutiny.

In a statement on Sunday, Gen Touré said that many of the mutinous soldiers had listened to earlier calls for them to stand down.

But an operation to end the mutiny had been launched because some soldiers were continuing to disobey orders, he added.

The mutineers have vowed to fight back if loyalist troops intervene.

 Ends/BBC

What's your reaction?
0Like0Dislike

Leave a Comment