Africa

Africa

Three killed, dozen wounded in I.Coast clashes with soldiers

14 February 2012 04:30 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Three people were killed and about a dozen were wounded in clashes between local communities and soldiers in eastern Ivory Coast, APA reports quoting AFP .
"There were three deaths yesterday and today," said a security source, referring to the incident in Arrah.
A medical source confirmed the toll and added that there were "eight wounded, mostly by bullets."
The clashes between the ethnic Agni and the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast (FRCI) backed by ethnic Malinke broke out Sunday and went on into Monday.
Houses and shops were burnt and several ethnic Agni residents were forced to flee the area, witnesses say.
Calm returned late Monday, after security reinforcements arrived and UN peacekeepers began patrolling the streets.
Clashes, some deadly, involving the FRCI have become common in the country since the end of the 2010-11 post-election crisis that left more than 3,000 people dead.
The government of new President Alassane Ouattara announced steps to restore "discipline" in the FRCI, whose main operatives are former rebels of the northern New Forces who backed him during the crisis.