A front-page story in Le Nouveau Reveil says that 83 militiamen and mercenaries have been arrested by the Liberian police after an attack was foiled at the Ivoirian-Liberian border.

The article (p. 4) also alleges that most of the gunmen are militiamen close to Laurent Gbagbo who sought refuge in Liberia after the capture of the former Ivorian president last year. Meanwhile, a report in L'Inter (p. 2) says that the army is working on a plan aimed at ensuring security in the western region of Cote d'Ivoire.

Still on security issues, a report in Soir Info (p. 4) says that the government's Forces Republicaines de Cote d'Ivoire are to be deployed in the eastern regions of the country as part of a plan to restore security throughout the country. According to the paper, this was announced by the Chief of Defense Staff, General Soumaila Bakayoko, during a recent visit to the eastern town of Abengourou. General Bakayoko is further reported as saying that the reason of this deployment is to improve security in this region.

In a related development, a report in Nord-Sud Quotidien (p. 4) says that heavy weapons, which have been stockpiled since 2004 in the eastern town of Abengourou, have been destroyed. The destruction, the article says, was part of an exercise designed by the national army to get rid of deadly weapons.

A report in Fraternite Matin (p. 9) quotes a UN spokesperson as saying that "There is an urgent need for disarmament." According to the paper, Hamadoun Toure said this during a press conference Thursday. The paper also indicates that the UN spokesperson was referring to voluntary disarmament.

This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. The opinions expressed in these reviews in no way reflect the views of the United States Government and are presented for informational purposes only. The accuracy of reports contained in this summary has not been confirmed by the Embassy.