afrol News, 29 June - Guillaume Soro, Côte d'Ivoire's Prime Minister, Friday morning escaped death. Mr Soro escaped unhurt after the Foker 100 plane he was boarding was shot by a rocket while trying to land at the Bouake International Airport.

Four people were reported dead while scores others sent to hospital for
serious injuries. It was not confirmed the reasons or the group that might
have been behind the RPG & rocket attack.

The former rebel leader of Forces Nouvelle had flown to the northern Cote
d'Ivoire capital, Bouake, to officially preside over the inauguration of the
magistrates tasked with public hearings in the area.

The attack followed the recent restoration of the public administration in
the former rebel-control north.

Côte d'Ivoire - once seen as the supermarket and economic hub of West Africa - was split into by a rebel incursion led by Guillaume Soro's FN in September 2002. But the
government of President Laurent Gbagbo signed a landmark peace deal with the
FN on 4 March this year, resulting to the appointment of Mr Soro as Prime Minister.

He replaced Charles Banny and would be in office until elections are held end of this year. The deal was reached thanks to the mediation of efforts of the Burkinabe President, Blaise Compare.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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