{"id":66386,"date":"2014-11-19T07:53:35","date_gmt":"2014-11-19T07:53:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=66386"},"modified":"2014-11-19T07:53:35","modified_gmt":"2014-11-19T07:53:35","slug":"ivory-coast-soldiers-ordered-end-pay-protests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/11\/ivory-coast-soldiers-ordered-end-pay-protests\/","title":{"rendered":"Ivory Coast soldiers ordered to end pay protests"},"content":{"rendered":"
Ivory Coast’s defence minister, Paul Koffi Koffi, has ordered soldiers to return to barracks after they staged protests in at least two cities.<\/p>\n
Soldiers blocked roads in the main city Abidjan and the second city Bouake to demand unpaid allowances.<\/p>\n
Mr Koffi promised that he would address their grievances.<\/p>\n
It is the biggest protest involving the Ivorian military since President Alassane Ouattara took office in 2011, ending a civil war.<\/p>\n
Bouake is a stronghold of the president, and the protest there suggests he is losing the confidence of some loyalists, correspondents say.<\/p>\n
Soldiers sealed off roads around the offices of the national radio and television station in the city, said a witness, who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
Health care demand<\/span><\/p>\n The protest forced shops and banks in the city to close, the witness added.<\/p>\n