Police hunt Ivorian jail-breakers

Version 0 of 1.

Police in Ivory Coast are hunting for 144 prisoners who dug their way out of jail last week.

The breakout took place last Tuesday in the country's second city Bouake but was not reported until the weekend.

Another 30 prisoners opted not to escape, fearing "reprisals against their families," a local official said.

Those who got away reportedly include 10 soldiers accused of helping to stage an attack in December against the ex-rebel New Forces (FN).

The Ivorian government has blamed the attack on Ibrahim Coulibaly, previously a close ally of the FN leaders.