Abidjan - Soldiers in Ivory Coast's biggest city, Abidjan, have smashed up essential equipment at the state-controlled RTI television station, which went off the air yesterday afternoon, French military sources said yesterday. RTI radio premises, at another location, were also attacked by soldiers.
Disgruntled soldiers from Ivory Coast's biggest barracks also looted shops and rampaged down city streets. Military sources said the mutiny, one day after an address to the traditionally stable nation by President Henri Konan Bedie, followed an apparent overnight attempt to take the commander of the army hostage. Other army sources spoke of grievances over pay and conditions.