Mutineers reach deal with government in Ivory Coast

An agreement has been reached between the Ivory Coast government and a group of mutineers who demanded the pay of bonuses, officials said on Tuesday.

"We have agreed. We are returning to our barracks. The mutiny is over,'' Cisse Fousseni, spokesman of the mutineers told the press in Bouake.

Banks, businesses and administrations, which had been closed for the past few days have reopened, witnesses said.

A group of soldiers took to the streets in major cities last Thursday night, in what was thought to be an army mutiny over the payment of bonuses promised in 2007.

"Everything is calm, there is nothing today," one of the mutineers from Akouedo camp in Abidjan told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity.

"We trust our authorities [...] The people have to understand that there was an agreement and later we did not understand what went wrong. That's what made us angry. The Ivorian population is very mature and it must understand that," he added.

The mutiny left at least one dead and several other injured, witnesses told Anadolu Agency.

On Monday night Alain Richard Donwahi, Ivorian defense minister said an agreement has been reached with the mutineers.

''We call on all soldiers to return to their barracks,'' Donwahi said in a televised statement. ''We call on people to remain calm and assure them that everything is being done for a quick return to a peaceful situation,'' he added.

The mutineers backed President Alassane Ouattara in 2011 as he sought to take power.