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Show The Salt Lake Tribune WORLD Friday, December24, 1999 Soldiers RampageStreets of Ivory Coast UN.staff trapped registers, said Pierre Koutou, a Western diplomats, speaking on “They came in and they were condition of anonymity, said army members were angry because they were owed money. gardenerat the shopping center. in offices; reason for army rebellion unclear acting crazy .. . but! didn’t see anyone hurt,” Koutousaid. More soldiers moved up and down the suburbanroad leading ABIDJAN,Ivory Coast — Soldiers rampaged in the streets of the Ivory Coast's commercial cap- ital on Thursday, shooting wiidly into theair, stealing cars andlooting stores in an apparent protest over moneyand perks. Z Residents dashed for cover as soldiers zoomed through Abidjan past the country's military college, forcing people from their cars and drivingoff with their vehicles. Abandoned cars littered the deserted street, which is norly crowded with people and vehicles, Thesoldiers did not announce a reason for the uprising. But ut some government officials and Armed Ivory Coastsoldiers drive throughthestreets of Abidianin a military truck on Thursday shooting wildlyinto the air, stealing cars and looting stores. Noofficial rea son was givenforthe soldiers actions; however, govemmentofficials and westem diplomats said army members were angry because they were owed mon- Otherofficials said army demands for better clothing and food rations were behindthe rebellion. Already plagued by mounting foreign debt and an economic downturn linked to the falling prices of coffee and cocoa, the country’s main exports, govern- mentcoffers were dented even further this year when the European Union and International Monetary Fund ruption allegations. aid overcor- ey. in stolen luxury sedans and fourwheel drive vehicles, firing automatic weapons and shouting obscenities. Stores closed through- out the city and barricades went upin some neighborhoods. “tam scared for mylife and for my car,” said taxi driver Koudjo Yao. “If I lose my car, I lose everything.” Daniel Kadja, a presidentialaffairs ministry official, played down the rebellion, saying there was “no need to panic.” Ivory Coast has iong been considered a model of West African sta ty. But political and social turmoil has risen steadily ahead of presidential elections scheduled for October next year. On Thursday, gunfire re- sounded near the national television and radio stations, which went off the air without explana- tion during the afternoon. Soldiers, some in uniform andothers in T-shirts and caps, surrounded both broadcastcenters. The gates ofboth were locked. U.N. staff were trapped in their downtown offices acrossthestreet from the radio station, which appeared to be under attack, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said in month of wireless — New York. Two vehicles in the U.N. compound were damaged by gunfire, he said. The gates to the nearby U.S. Embassy were also locked. Butthe streets around the president’s res- and free activation. idence in suburban Cocody remained calm. Earlier, soldiers stormed through a packed suburban shopping center, shooting guns in the air and ordering people onto the floor, witnesses said. Thesoldiers broke down doors and grabbed money from cash Icebreaker Brings Tourists to South Pole For New Year’s Eve Sign up for one of many ‘THE ASSOCIATED PRESS qualified annual plans from MOSCOW — Whosaysthe pyramids, the Eiffel Tower and AT&T Wireless Services by ‘Times Square are the best places to welcomein the new year? 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