Ivory Coast president calls for talks with security services

Reuters
Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara speaks during the official ceremony of promulgation of the third republic of the Cote d'Ivoire after the referendum on a new constitution, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast November 08, 2016 REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara ordered his defence minister and the heads of the army, police and gendarmes on Wednesday to hold talks with members of the security forces to discuss grievances in a bid to end two weeks of unrest. "The President of the Republic ... asks all soldiers, gendarmes, police, customs officers, forestry service agents and prison guards to facilitate the return of calm," government spokesman Bruno Kone said following a cabinet meeting. (Reporting by Joe Bavier; Editing by Ed Cropley)