Ivorian coup attempt

Abidjan has seen months of violence

Soldiers loyal to the newly elected president in Ivory Coast have been fighting to put down a coup attempt by unidentified rebel forces.

Latest reports quote eyewitnesses as saying government forces have now retaken the radio station after an all night battle in the centre of the main city, Abidjan.

Dear countrymen, dear Ivorians, the country has just undergone another change - radio and the TV are in the hands of the military

Rebel broadcast

The West African country has been plagued by instability since a coup in December 1999.

Overnight reports from the city say the fighting was concentrated around the television and radio station buildings.

Television went off the air but rebel broadcasts continued from the radio station throughout the night.

The number of casualties is not known.

Confusion

In their radio broadcast the rebels said: "The country has undergone another change."

President Gbagbo: Reported to be safe

However there seemed to be conflicting reports from the government about the situation.

Prime Minister Affi N'Guessan confirmed that a small group of mutinous soldiers had attacked the offices of state radio and television, in what he called an attempted coup.

But Defence Minister Moise Lida Kouassi refused to confirm if intensive firing of automatic weapons, machine guns and artillery, heard around the television building, was an attempt by loyalist forces to recover control.

Explosions and heavy gunfire were reported in different parts of the city, including the district where President Laurent Gbagbo lives.

Sources in Abidjan said the president had been at his home village of Mama over the weekend and had not been due to return until Monday.

Rebel mystery?

The identity and strength of those involved in the coup is a mystery - their radio announcement gave no clues - but Ivory Coast has been in political chaos since the coup by former military leader, General Robert Guei.

General Guei: Ousted after trying to rig October elections

General Guei was ousted after elections in October, but there has been repeated speculation that he is trying to stage a comeback.

The army is divided and there are rumours that some soldiers remain loyal to General Guei.

There is also dissatisfaction amongst soldiers who come from the north of the country.

One of the north's main political leaders, Alassane Ouattara, has been repeatedly prevented from contesting elections and there has been a dangerous increase in tensions between Northerners and other Ivorians.

At least 200 people have been killed since President Gbagbo took office in October.

Last month, more than 20 died in outbursts of street violence after Mr Ouattara was barred from running for parliament.