The US Embassy in Ivory Coast was hit by an errant rocket-propelled grenade today during protests over a disputed presidential election.
"It does appear that an errant RPG did strike the outer perimeter of the embassy with only slight damage and no injuries," US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
He said it appeared that the incident occurred as part of cross-fire between two rival groups.
Security forces loyal to Ivory Coast incumbent Laurent Gbagbo used live rounds on today to break up protests by supporters of presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's main city, and witnesses said at least four people were killed.
Sustained machine gun and rifle fire was heard in the city earlier today, as was tear gas in districts where pro-Ouattara supporters were gathering for the march on the building of the state broadcaster RTI.
"I saw four killed and many wounded. They fired guns to push us back when we tried to march down the street," one protester said of live rounds fired by military at a crowd marching near a military police school on their way to the state TV building.
Telephone interviews conducted by Amnesty International with people at the scene of the march indicated there were nine dead, the rights group said. It said the interviews were with five pro-Ouattara protesters and two local human rights workers.
Some protesters close to the state television building had been arrested, stripped and beaten, Andre Kamate, president of local rights group LIDHO said by telephone.
An army spokesman declined to comment on the reports.
The violence came amid a growing crisis over the results of the November 28th election in the world's top cocoa grower.
The United States, the United Nations, African states and France recognise Mr Outtara as the winner. But Mr Gbagbo, who controls state institutions, police and the army, was declared the victor by the country's highest legal body.
The November vote was intended to heal north-south division created by a 2002-2003 conflict, but instead has raised fears of unrest and a potential return to all-out war.
The United Nations has about 10,000 soldiers and police in the country. The force has a mandate to protect civilians but said its job was not to protect the march.
Reuters