Ivorian 'coup plotter' freed

Coulibaly has supporters in northern Ivory Coast

A Paris court has ordered the release of a former Ivory Coast soldier detained on suspicion of plotting to assassinate Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo.

The court made no comment, but AFP news agency quotes judicial sources as saying there was insufficient evidence to justify the continued detention of Ibrahim Coulibaly in France.

Five of his alleged accomplices were also released - while a sixth remains in custody.

All were among 18 people arrested last month in connection with what the French authorities called a "destabilisation plan for Ivory Coast".

Most were later released without charge. But anti-terrorist judges launched an investigation into Mr Coulibaly and his six suspected associates - the first step towards being charged.

The seven were placed in preventive detention.

They have now been told to remain in the Paris area while the investigation continues.

Popular man

Mr Gbagbo's supporters have accused former rebel groups of being behind the conspiracy.

Mr Coulibaly, 39, is a former army sergeant who led Ivory Coast's first-ever coup in December 1999.

The former rebels still control much of the country

He is also regarded as one of the driving forces behind the uprising against Mr Gbagbo's rule - which began a year ago.

The rebels seized the northern half of the country, before signing a power-sharing agreement with the government in January.

Despite the peace deal, tensions remain high in the world's leading cocoa-growing nation.

Mr Coulibaly, whose initial arrest was welcomed by Mr Gbagbo, remains popular in northern Ivory Coast.

On Tuesday residents in Bouake, the stronghold of the former rebels, demonstrated to demand his release.