Ivorian leader dismisses coup attempt

Gbagbo triumphant despite the attacks

Ivory Coast's president, Laurent Gbagbo, appeared on state TV on Monday night calling for calm and brushing aside the failed coup attempt in Abidjan.

Speaking from his home village of Mama in the southwest, he said: "The people who attempted this coup are amateurs, they are children.

"This was more like a terrorist act to alarm the population than an act of war."

No turning back

Mr Gbagbo said he had been staying in his home village and resting on a doctor's advice since last week. He denied he had gone there forewarned of what was to happen.

No one should believe that our openness is weakness

President Gbagbo

He was informed of the situation in Abidjan at 0400 and had "gone back to sleep".

"We didn't think it was dramatic," he added.

"I ask Ivorians to be as calm as I have been."

The upcoming elections in northern districts and the rest of the political agenda would go ahead despite the coup attempt, he remarked.

"All the deadlines we have announced will be maintained," he declared, including the north's polls and the inauguration of a new national assembly.

"We must be allowed to govern," he said.

Ivorian troops restored order

He pledged no pardons and "rigorous justice" for the "terrorists".

"They know well that they cannot overthrow the government," he said.

"The Ivorians are tired of sorcerers' apprentices. They are tired of apprentice coup plotters. I want Ivorians to be vigilant."

Foreign 'mercenaries' involved

Armed groups briefly captured the state radio and television stations before being expelled by loyalist forces by midday on Monday.

Two members of the security forces were killed and at least four of the plotters died in the abortive coup.

Thirty-one people were arrested, including one Liberian, according to the government.

The people who attempted this coup are amateurs, they are children

President Gbagbo

National radio late on Monday reported "mercenaries" from Burkina Faso attempting to reach Abidjan to reinforce the rebels.

It said they had been forced back after a clash with the army in the central town of Bouake.

Mr Gbagbo did not let on whom he suspected of being behind the attacks; but he warned neighbouring countries he would be investigating reports of foreign involvement on his return to Abidjan.

"No one should believe that our openness is weakness," he stated.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.