Ivorian denies assassination charge

An aide to the former Ivory Coast military ruler, who was arrested on Tuesday with six others for allegedly plotting an assassination, has denied the charge.

A lawyer for the aide, Captain Fabien Coulibaly, told the BBC his client was detained after contacting former army colleagues on his return to Abidjan, where he had arrived to prepare for the attendance of the military leader Robert Guei's at the country's reconciliation talks.

The lawyer, Jean-Claude Vlai, said Captain Coulibaly was well.

Mr Guei says the charges are trumped-up.

The men are to appear in court on Monday.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service