Seven Ivorian mutineers sentenced ten years

In Ivory Coast, seven soldiers arrested following a mutiny in July have received ten-year prison sentences for revolt, disobedience and looting.

The soldiers, all from units in the central town of Bouke, are alleged to have taken arms and participated in the looting of banks, shops and service stations during the mutiny.

The accused have five days to appeal.

The soldiers are part of a large group being tried for crimes committed during the July mutiny. Some of the defendants, accused of armed robbery, face life imprisonment. Six other soldiers, all colonels, will be tried at a later date on charges of threatening state security. Hundreds of soldiers took to the streets in Abidjan and other cities for two days, demanding a bonus for their role in bringing General Robert Guei to power in coup last December.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service