Ivorian violence blamed on Gbagbo allies

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ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Ivorian interior minister said there were signs that forces loyal to former President Laurent Gbagbo were behind an attack on the country's soldiers.

At least six soldiers with the Ivorian military were killed during attacks on a military base near Abidjan. More attacks near the commercial capital were reported this week, though officials were quoted by the BBC as saying the situation is under control.

Ivorian Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko told Radio France International that supporters of the former regime were behind the violence.

"They were people who come from the myriad pro-Gbagbo militiamen and former armed forces nostalgic of the Gbagbo regime," Bakayoko said.

Ggabgo refused to stand down following 2010 elections despite international recognition that rival candidate Alassane Ouattara won a contest meant to unite a country divided by civil war. Gbagbo is awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court for war crimes allegedly committed in the violence that followed the 2010 contest. He was arrested last year.

Ivorian authorities in June said a plot to overthrow Ouattara's government may have been hatched with the help of Liberian mercenaries.