Several dead in Cote d’Ivoire over president’s third-term bid

At least four people have been killed in clashes between protesters and police in Cote d’Ivoire as hundreds take to the street to protest the president’s decision to contest for a third time this October.

Protesters say President Alassane Ouattara’s third term bid is unconstitutional and he should not run.

Three people were killed in the central town of Daoukro in clashes between Ouattara supporters and backers of rival candidate, Henri Konan Bedie, a security source and witnesses confirmed.

Mayor Jean-Paul Amethier reported that an 18-year-old died in the southeastern town of Bonoua, 50km (30 miles) from the economic hub, Abidjan, in violence between demonstrators and security forces, local resident Herve Niamkey said the police station in Bonoua has been ransacked by angry demonstrators, and the police chief and officers have taken refuge in the courtyard.

In Abidjan, scattered groups of demonstrators built barricades and burned tyres in response to a call from the opposition and civil society groups.

The government said it did not authorise the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, in the district of Yopougon, police fired tear gas and chased protesters down narrow streets.

Several dozen protesters gathered in Port Bouet, a seaside area of Abidjan while heavy deployment of riot police maintained order in the upscale district of Cocody, where many politicians live, including Ouattara.

The government announced a ban on protests late on Wednesday in a communique read on state television.