Liberia police arrest six after Ivorian border shootout

Liberia's defence minister Brownie Samukai announced Tuesday that security forces have arrested six Ivorians in connection with a Monday

shootout where rebels attacked a military base in Cote d'Ivoire.

Gunfight erupted Monday between Ivorian government troops and rebels around the western Ivorian town of Touloupleu, near the border with Liberia.

The rebels are believed to be supporters of ousted president Laurent Gbagbo.

Local media quoted Ivorians who sought refuge in Liberia saying the rebels seemed to have outnumbered government forces.

Ivorian security forces reported heavy casualties on both sides.

Five Ivorian military men and a police officer are among the refugees who crossed into Liberia.

Minister Samukai said the six suspects were arrested Tuesday just before 6 am in one fell swoop by border patrol while attempting to sneak into Liberia.

The suspects were taken into custody in Toe town, 29 kilometres from the B’haijozon border post.

'Not Liberia'

The defence minister stressed that no Liberian was involved in the shootout.

“That fighting was part of the conflict among Ivorians. Liberia is in no way connected to it and will never have anything to do with it,” the defence minister said.

He refuted allegations by Abidjan that the attacks were launched from Liberia.

“Those dissidents have their bases in the dense forest between the Ivorian town of Blolequin and Toulepleu in western Cote d'Ivoire. They did not attack from Liberia,” he added.

The minister called on Abidjan to stop blaming Liberia for its internal political situation.

“We are calling on our Ivorian colleagues to focus internally where their problems are. They should not hold us responsible for their internal conflict. You cannot blame Liberia for the attack. These are internal problems and they need to secure their border so that they can resolve their differences,” he said.

The Liberian border with Cote d'Ivoire has remained volatile since last year after Gbagbo was routed by forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, who then became president.