Ivory Coast rebel killed
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (Reuters) -- A military chief close to a newly proclaimed and disputed leader of Ivory Coast's rebels was killed at the weekend in what his allies said on Monday was part of a rival group's effort to eliminate them.
An adviser to Ibrahim Coulibaly ("IB") -- whose supporters named him the New Forces' leader after storming a TV station in December -- said Chief 'Adams' was killed outside a nightclub in the northern town of Korhogo early on Sunday.
The adviser told Reuters in Paris, where "IB" is based, Adams died after meeting fighters close to the movement's political leader, Guillaume Soro, widely seen as IB's rival as head of the rebels.
"What makes us think that this is part of an operation to wipe out those close to 'IB' is that they (Soro's supporters) went to this meeting with their heavy artillery," said the adviser, who declined to be named.
Rebel spokesman Sidiki Konate, who is close to Soro, said Adams was killed accidentally in a scuffle with one of Soro's bodyguards. Konate denied the rebels are divided, and said "IB" did not have a role in the organization for the time being.
Although Ivory Coast's civil war -- sparked by a failed coup in September 2002 -- was declared officially over in July, the world's top cocoa grower is still split between the rebel-held north and the government-controlled south.
Cracks have appeared in the rebel movement as fighters in the north become increasingly frustrated with the sluggish peace process and minimal gains made since the rebels joined the government last year as part of a deal to end the war.
The divisions deepened in December when a group of fighters said "IB," rather than Soro, was the rebels' leader. Local newspapers say IB's supporters have repeatedly clashed with Soro's loyalists over the past month.
In late January, the papers said Adams was involved in one of those gunfights against a rival chief known as "Bin Laden" in Korhogo. At least four people were killed.
French forces based in Korhogo, who have been sent to reopen major north-south routes through the country, said they were aware of the weekend shooting but did not know the cause.
"If it was an accident or if it was a settling of scores, we don't know yet," said army spokesman Bruno Misset.
(Additional reporting by Gerard Bon in Paris)
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