ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Two attacks on military positions in Ivory Coast killed seven people Thursday night, including one soldier, in the commercial capital of Abidjan, military officials said.
Deputy Defense Minister Paul Koffi Koffi said an attack on two police stations and one gendarmerie post in Abidjan's Port-Bouet district, home to the international airport, killed one soldier, one civilian and one assailant.
Army spokesman Cherif Moussa said a separate attack occurring at about the same time in the town of Noe, near the border with Ghana, resulted in the deaths of four assailants and the arrest of five others. He said the border with Ghana had been closed.
"Our positions in Noe were attacked by gunmen coming from Ghana," Cherif said. "In reaction, our men killed four attackers and five of them were arrested. The situation is now under control."
The attacks were the first this month after seven attacks were carried out against Ivory Coast security forces in August. President Alassane Ouattara's government has blamed the attacks on loyalists of former President Laurent Gbagbo, including some who are in exile in Ghana. Gbagbo's political party has dismissed the allegations as baseless.
Gbagbo, whose refusal to leave office after losing the November 2010 election to Ouattara sparked six months of violence and brought the country to the brink of civil war, is currently awaiting trial at The Hague.
