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At least six Cote d’Ivoire soldiers were killed in Wednesday attacks targeting security forces in the country’s restless west, close to its border with Liberia, the Defence Minister is reported to have said.

AFP reports that gunmen attacked several army positions near the town of Grabo, a region where land disputes and ethnic tensions have spilled over into bloodshed numerous times in recent years.

Defence Minister Paul Koffi reportedly said on national television that six soldiers died in the incident along with four of the attackers.

A similar attack in the same area carried out by around 20 unidentified gunmen in January left two soldiers dead.