Abidjan - Ivory Coast's government said yesterday it had put down an attempted coup by armed groups who attacked state television and radio facilities and the President's residence overnight.
"Rebel elements tried to take the radio, television and the residence of the President. These rebel forces have been routed," the Interior Minister, Mr Emile Boga Doudou, said on state radio. "The attempted coup d'etat can be considered to have been aborted," the Defence Minister, Mr Moise Lida Kouassi, said in the same broadcast, made after the radio station, which had been captured by rebels during the night, was retaken by loyalist forces.