ICoast-army
   Ivory Coast armed forces warn of danger of dividing them

   ABIDJAN, Sept 20  (AFP) - The Ivory Coast armed forces on Wednesday
slammed
political elements they said were trying to divide them and so put the
nation
in danger.
   In a declaration read by the armed forces chief of staff, General
Soumahila
Diabakate, the members of the armed forces collectively asked "that the
armed
forces be left out of the political manoeuvring so that their cohesion is
preserved in the greater interest of Ivory Coast".
   The call was made after Monday's attack by a group of soldiers on the
home
of military ruler General Robert Guei, which Guei described as an
assassination attempt.
   The attack on Guei's house came as Ivory Coast prepares to hold
presidential elections October 22, aimed at restoring a civilian government
after the coup of December 24 that brought Guei to power.
   The declaration described the attack as an "ignoble act made even more
serious by the fact that it was perpetrated by elements of the presidential
guard".
   The commanders of the armed forces and the police reaffirmed their
loyalty
to Guei and their committment to see the transition process back to
civilian
rule run its course.
   Division within the armed forces have seen at least two mutinies this
year
before Monday's attack on Guei's residence which has led to the arrest of
more
than 20 members of the armed forces.
   so/sa/crl/jh

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