Ivory Coast mutineers on trial

General Guei reached a settlement with the soldiers

A military police superintendent in Ivory Coast is reported to have received a six-month jail sentence for his part in last month's mutiny.

The sentence is the first to be handed down in the public trial of 45 of the soldiers arrested in Ivory Coast after the mutiny.

Hundreds of soldiers took to the streets for two days last month in Abidjan and other cities.

They were demanding a bonus for their role in bringing General Robert Guei to power in the coup last December.

The soldiers face charges of rebellion, disobeying orders and theft.

The trial is taking place in Abidjan, at the Gallieni military barracks, headquarters of the army-chief-of-staff.

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.

Uniform

The officer who was sentenced, Parfait Bla Konan, admitted that on 5 July, when the mutiny began, he had lent a uniform to his brother as a precaution to ensure his safety.

He then took four litres of petrol from a garage which was being looted.

The civilian judge who is heading the tribunal sentenced Konan for disobedience for having lent his uniform - but cleared him of stealing the petrol.

General Guei's ruling junta reached an agreement with the soldiers following the coup, with each man receiving a pay-out of about $1,600 - a fraction of their original demand.

The unrest sparked fears of a counter-coup against General Guei - who came to power on the back of dissatisfaction among rank-and-file soldiers.

General Guei has promised to lead the country back to civilian rule.