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| Ivorian protesters beat minister | Ivorian protesters beat minister |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Youths angered by the dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, have dragged the transport minister from his car and attacked him. | Youths angered by the dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, have dragged the transport minister from his car and attacked him. |
| Innocent Anaky Kobenan was seriously injured, one of his aides said. | |
| Supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo have blamed the transport ministry for the scandal. Mr Kobenan has in turn accused the port management. | |
| Meanwhile, the prime minister says the waste, which has killed seven people, is to be cleaned up starting on Sunday. | |
| Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny said a deal had been signed with French firm Seche to work in 11 sites in the city. | Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny said a deal had been signed with French firm Seche to work in 11 sites in the city. |
| The cabinet resigned over the scandal last week but Mr Banny said he would name a new cabinet shortly. | The cabinet resigned over the scandal last week but Mr Banny said he would name a new cabinet shortly. |
| I'm feeling very bad in the throat and I have headaches and I cannot breathe properly Abidjan resident In pictures: Toxic waste Global path of pollution Eyewitness: Exposed The new list was originally expected last week but opposition groups and rebels who control the north have refused to rejoin the power-sharing government, tasked with ending the country's division. | I'm feeling very bad in the throat and I have headaches and I cannot breathe properly Abidjan resident In pictures: Toxic waste Global path of pollution Eyewitness: Exposed The new list was originally expected last week but opposition groups and rebels who control the north have refused to rejoin the power-sharing government, tasked with ending the country's division. |
| Meanwhile, President Laurent Gbagbo has refused to attend next week's UN summit on Ivory Coast, or send a delegation, accusing the international community of being biased against him. | Meanwhile, President Laurent Gbagbo has refused to attend next week's UN summit on Ivory Coast, or send a delegation, accusing the international community of being biased against him. |
| Arrests | Arrests |
| "The protesters burned his [Minister Kobenan's] car. He is seriously injured," said Joel N'Guessan, the vice-president of Mr Kobenan's opposition MFA party. | |
| His wife was also injured, party officials say. | His wife was also injured, party officials say. |
| He had been on his way to see his brother's body in the morgue. | He had been on his way to see his brother's body in the morgue. |
| The dumping has provoked fury among Abidjan residents | |
| Ivory Coast's institutions were divided between the various political formations under a peace deal. | |
| While President Gbagbo's supporters have blamed Mr Kobenan and transport ministry officials for the scandal, he has accused, among others, the director of the port, which is controlled by Mr Gbagbo's FPI party. | |
| In a speech on Thursday, the prime minister said that a judicial inquiry had been launched into who was responsible for dumping the 400 metric tons of toxic liquid, which came from a ship. | |
| Mr Banny said that eight people had been arrested and high-profile figures like the head of the port, customs and the district of Abidjan had been suspended from office. | Mr Banny said that eight people had been arrested and high-profile figures like the head of the port, customs and the district of Abidjan had been suspended from office. |
| He also confirmed that the liquid was not radioactive and said that the city's drinking water was not contaminated. | He also confirmed that the liquid was not radioactive and said that the city's drinking water was not contaminated. |
| Abidjan residents have been complaining of symptoms such as headaches, vomiting and breathing difficulties. | Abidjan residents have been complaining of symptoms such as headaches, vomiting and breathing difficulties. |
| They have been complaining of a smell of rotten eggs on the streets. | They have been complaining of a smell of rotten eggs on the streets. |
| The UN has set up an inter-agency team and the Ivorians have recruited extra medical staff to deal with the crisis. | The UN has set up an inter-agency team and the Ivorians have recruited extra medical staff to deal with the crisis. |
| The waste came from the ship, the Probo Koala, and has been found in at least 11 open-air sites around Abidjan. | The waste came from the ship, the Probo Koala, and has been found in at least 11 open-air sites around Abidjan. |
| The company which owns the ship, Trafigura Beheer BV, says it is extremely concerned and has sent oil and mining experts to Abidjan to help the authorities. | The company which owns the ship, Trafigura Beheer BV, says it is extremely concerned and has sent oil and mining experts to Abidjan to help the authorities. |
| It says it informed the authorities and handed over discharges from washing out its oil tanks with caustic soda - known as slops - to a certified local company, Compagnie Tommy. | It says it informed the authorities and handed over discharges from washing out its oil tanks with caustic soda - known as slops - to a certified local company, Compagnie Tommy. |