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Gunfire Breaks Out Ahead of Talks on Ivory Coast Mutiny Deal


FILE - Ivory Coast troop provides security before the arrival of incumbent President Alassane Ouattara at his election rally in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
FILE - Ivory Coast troop provides security before the arrival of incumbent President Alassane Ouattara at his election rally in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Witnesses say gunfire has broken out in Ivory Coast's second-largest city, where the defense chief was expected to resume talks on an army mutiny there a week ago.

Fanta Kourouma, a resident of Bouake, says shots could be heard shortly before noon Friday. She says they appeared to come from near the city's main military camp. Aboubacar Al Syddick, a journalist in Bouake, says the shots came from soldiers trying to disperse a demonstration by civilians angry at soldiers' behavior.

Last week, soldiers in Bouake launched a two-day mutiny over pay that quickly spread to other cities, including Abidjan, the commercial hub. President Alassane Ouattara said the next day that a deal had been reached on the issue.

The defense minister on Friday was discussing specifics of the deal.

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