Demonstrators protest in Ivory Coast; prime minister asks for more time to form new govt

Opposition demonstrators protest in Ivory Coast

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Ivory Coast’s prime minister is asking for two more days to finalize negotiations over the formation of a new government.

But tensions are mounting in the West African nation that has been without a government for a week.

An opposition protest turned violent in the eastern city of Bondoukou on Thursday and at least one man was wounded.

Souleymane Toure, an opposition coalition spokesperson, said that police fired rubber bullets into the gathered crowd of protesters.

Thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully in six other cities across the country.

President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the government and the electoral commission last Friday. Five years after Gbagbo’s term ended, Ivory Coast has yet to hold a ballot to replace him.