Ivory Coast in Turmoil

A B I D J A N, Ivory Coast, Oct. 25 -- Soldiers shot protesters in Ivory Coast today when tens of thousands of marchers denouncing military ruler General Robert Guei converged on the center of the main city, Abidjan.

Reporters saw at least six supporters of socialist leader Laurent Gbagbo with bullet wounds, some serious. Protesters said some marchers had been shot dead.

In a separate development, a leading member of Guei’sjunta, Communication Minister Henri Sama, resigned sayingGbagbo had won Sunday’s presidential election and urgingGuei “to spare Ivory Coast a bloodbath” and step down.

“The truth is Gbagbo won the election. I am not acheat,” Sama said, adding that he had asked a fellow juntamember to arrest Guei, who was at the military airport.

The protests, which began on Tuesday after the WestAfrican country’s army rulers declared Guei winner of thepoll, have affected towns nationwide.

Aides of Gbagbo, who accused Guei of robbing him ofvictory and proclaimed himself head of state, said that 11people had been killed on Tuesday, when soldiers fired inthe air and used tear gas, whips and clubs to dispersemarchers.

Paramilitary gendarmes and some soldiers rallied tothe protest movement today, some linking up withmarchers with armored vehicles.

Belgrade-Style Protests

The marchers, who chanted “We don’t want Guei,” “Gueithief” and “Gbagbo president,” massed outside the stateradio headquarters after most soldiers guarding it pulledback to the presidential palace in vehicles, firing asthey went.

Witnesses said that the marchers were negotiating withsoldiers still inside.

Protesters said that it was a similar story at thestate television station in the plush Cocody district ofthe city.

Before the election, Gbagbo had threatenedBelgrade-style popular protests if he was cheated ofvictory.

Earlier, rival army factions fought an inconclusivenight battle at the key military base of Akouedo, wherethe country’s first coup began last December.