Fresh protests in Ivory Coast as new government is delayed

New opposition protests against Ivory Coast's president erupted yesterday following deadly clashes with security forces that raised tensions and again delayed announcing a new government, officials said.

"The prime minister will present his government on Monday," a member of Guillaume Soro's entourage said, adding that discussions aimed to include opposition members were continuing over the weekend.

Soro had been expected to announce a new ministerial line-up by yesterday after President Laurent Gbagbo sacked the previous Cabinet and dissolved the Independent Electoral Commission over alleged fraud in compiling a voters' roll.

But Gbagbo's actions triggered protests from opposition groups which turned deadly last Friday in the western town of Gagnoa. At least five people were killed and nine more injured, said the country's military chief, General Philippe Mangou.

In fresh protests on Saturday the home of Malick Coulibaly, campaign director for Gbagbo, "was entirely burned down by militants of the RHDP," he told AFP, referring to the opposition Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace.

The headquarters of the presidential party, the Ivorian Popular Front, was also set on fire in the northern city of Korhogo, a local official said.

In the ex-rebel New Forces (FN) stronghold of Bouake, about 1,000 protesters marched amid calls to oust Gbagbo, and some were responsible for partly burning the prefecture and looting the city hall, an AFP correspondent at the scene reported.

Security has been beefed around the home of the FN leader and now premier Soro, who is expected in the city later yesterday.

Efforts to end the political standoff will receive help today from Burkino Faso's President Blaise Compaore, who oversees Ivorian peace pacts and will meet with two key opposition leaders - former Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie and ex-prime minister Alassane Ouattara, the official close to Soro said.