Free Republic

ABIDJAN, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast angrily denied on Thursday that it had hired dozens of South African mercenaries to help the government fight rebels who hold half the territory of the world's largest cocoa producer. In a strongly worded statement, President Laurent Gbagbo's adviser in Paris, Toussaint Alain, said "absolutely no credit should be given to reports that South African mercenaries are in Ivory Coast". "These fantasy allegations, obligingly peddled by a Western military source and armed rebels, are aimed at torpedoing peace negotiations in Lome," the statement said. Reports that the mercenaries had arrived in Abidjan...

Washington sent troops to the Ivory Coast last night to help in the rescue of scores of American teenagers at a missionary school caught up in vicious fighting. Students cowered on the ground as heavy machine gun fire flew overhead in exchanges that lasted all day between troops loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo and well-armed rebels. "We are in a state of emergency here and I am sorry but I cannot take a call at this moment," a young and very scared female voice told The Telegraph last night by telephone. Before the line went dead, gunfire could be heard...