The leader of the military coup in the Ivory Coast is consolidating his hold on power in the country.

But General Robert Guei is also facing his first international row - with France over the future of the ousted president.

He has also banned France from sending reinforcements to its permanent military garrison in Ivory Coast.

The self-declared new ruler has appointed nine senior military officers to the National Committee of Public Salvation.

General Guei is to be president of the committee, which he says will be to oversee the country for a transitional period.

Senior military leaders from President Henri Konan Bedie's government have appeared on national television announcing their support for the coup leaders.

But two members of the ousted president's Democratic Party have been arrested, the general said.

The party's Secretary-General, Laurent Dona, and Trade Minister Guy-Alain Gauze are being held in barracks "for their own safety", he said.

Looting soldiers

A curfew was still in effect on Saturday, with soldiers ordered to shoot anyone on the streets after 6pm.

Looting has continued in some parts of the commercial capital, Abidjan, and soldiers have been commandeering private vehicles, to "assure security" according to a military aide.

There are reports that soldiers have raided stores and restaurants in the poor areas of Abobo and Adjame, and that officers have robbed passers-by and seized cars which they later abandoned to gangs of youths.

General Guei has said his forces have arrested soldiers who participated in the looting, and has ordered his troops to return commandeered civilian cars to their owners.

He said he wanted life to return to normal in the country on Monday, and has called for a meeting on Sunday with representatives of all public service sectors.

French row

The dispute with France broke out over the fate of President Bedie, who is believed to be holed up at a French military camp near Abidjan airport.

General Guei has told French military officials they must take President Bedie out of the country immediately for his own safety, suggesting that mutinous soldiers might want to take revenge against him.

One of General Guei's military aides, Maurice Bouho has said the new regime did not want to "hurt or kill anyone" but added it could change its mind if President Bedie did not leave soon.

The French military however has not yet flown Mr Bedie out of the country.

A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry told the Associated Press news agency that he did not know where Mr Bedie wanted to go.

The row is intensifying over a ban on France sending military reinforcements to its permanent military garrison in Ivory Coast, a move which General Bedie has described as "unacceptable".

The BBC's West Africa correspondent says the dispute is potentially dangerous

The unrest started last Thursday as an army mutiny, with troops protesting over unpaid salaries, poor living conditions and what they called the 'bad governance' of the country.

It is the Ivory Coast's first coup since independence in 1960, and has been condemned by France, the United States and various African countries.