Ivory Coast soldiers killed in raid on Abidjan army base

At least five soldiers have been shot dead in an attack on an army base in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast’s commercial capital.

A group of unidentified gunmen raided the barracks in the early hours of Monday and a gun battle that lasted three hours ensued. One gunman was killed in the shoot out.

Witnesses say the base was fired upon from all sides by a large group of heavily armed men in civilian clothing.

The assailant’s stole a number of weapons including AK-47 automatic rifles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

Authorities say the situation is now under control and the army has launched a major operation to hunt down the gunmen.

The bloodshed comes 24 hours after five soldiers were killed in a similar attack on a police station and army roadblock in another part of the city.

The violence is the worst seen in Abidjan since former President Laurent Gbagbo was ousted from power in April 2011.

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