Fugitive general denies plot




A former member of Ivory Coast's ruling military administration has told the
BBC he was not involved in an alleged plot to assassinate head of state
General Robert Guei.


This is a ridiculous set-up. I am surprised and it fills me with
indignation.

General Abdoulaye Coulibaly
General Abdoulaye Coulibaly, number three in the administration, fled after
being dismissed together with its number two, General Lassana Palenfo, on
Friday.

Both men are from the north of the country, the same region as opposition
leader Alassane Ouattara whose candidature in planned forthcoming
presidential elections is being challenged by General Guei.

Dozens of soldiers of the presidential guard, many from the north of the
country, have been arrested following an attack on General Guei's house on
18 September in a move which correspondents say displays deep ethnic
divisions within the military.

Arms

A statement from the administration on Tuesday said Generals Palenfo and
Coulibaly had fled after being implicated in the alleged plot to kill
General Guei.

State television said weapons had been found at General Coulibaly's house
during a search on Tuesday.



General Guei has rejected African leaders' attempts to find a solution

Speaking from hiding to the BBC's French service General Coulibaly said he
was astonished by the accusations made against him.

"This is a ridiculous set-up. I am surprised and it fills me with
indignation.

"He [Guei] has accused me but he knows full well that we would never have
done that because he knows me, and we have a good relationship," he said.

General Coulibaly would not disclose his whereabouts but said the
administration knew where he was hiding.

Disagreement

He said although he had been one of General Guei's closest supporters during
the coup on 24 December they now differed on the way forward.

"I did not want to stay on after the transition, I have no wish to go right
to the top of the state hierarchy," he said.

General Guei initially said he had no wish to retain power after a civilian
democracy was restored to Ivory Coast but later changed his mind and
announced his candidature in presidential elections due on 22 October.
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