French troops stop Ivorian protest

French soldiers have deployed in a buffer zone

French soldiers have fired teargas at crowds of government supporters in the Ivory Coast commercial capital, Abidjan.

The protesters were trying to enter the French military base, looking for opposition leader Alassane Ouattara.

He fled to the French embassy after soldiers rebelled against the government of President Laurent Gbagbo last month.

Mr Ouattara is a northern Muslim, like many of the rebel soldiers and many government supporters accuse him of being behind the rebellion - an accusation he denies.

His Abidjan home was looted and then burned down after he fled.

Meanwhile, the Ivory Coast Government has denied that the army is attacking Muslims in the central town of Daloa, retaken by government forces last week.

Muslim residents of the town say they are being persecuted and some have been killed.

Presidential adviser Toussaint Alain said that those wearing military uniforms and killing people were not soldiers.

Evacuated

Protesters chanted slogans such as "Down with France" and "Chirac the enslaver," referring to French President Jacques Chirac, reported French news agency AFP.

After being dispersed, some of the protesters threw stones at white motorists, AFP said.

Ouattara denies involvement with the rebellion

About 50 people were treated for minor injuries, mostly demonstrators who had tripped in the panic to escape, reports Reuters news agency.

French schools closed and the embassy advised its citizens in Abidjan to return to their homes.

Since the uprising began, France has doubled its military presence in Ivory Coast to about 1,000 soldiers, protecting 20,000 French citizens, Reuters reports.

Military aid

France has deployed troops along the line of control between government and rebel soldiers, after a truce was agreed last week.

They are due to be replaced by West African troops.

Rebels demand fresh elections

Mr Gbagbo has criticised the west for not providing military aid to help the army fight the rebels.

West African leaders are scheduled to gather in Abidjan on Wednesday, to discuss the situation in Ivory Coast.

The Patriotic Movement of Ivory Coast (MPCI) rebels demand that Mr Gbagbo resign and fresh elections held.

He came to power in 2000 following an election from which Mr Ouattara was barred on the basis that he was not an Ivorian citizen.