Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire - Ivorian incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo  on Friday issued a decree ordering a night curfew in the country, according the spokesperson for the Defence and Security Forces, Colonel Babri Gohourou Hilaire. The curfew would be from Friday 18 February to Sunday 20 February.

The curfew hours would be from 2200 hours to 0600 hours GMT on the first day and 2100 hours to 0600 hours GMT on the last two days.

No reasons were given for the action.

Sources say that the coalition backing Alassane Ouattara, the opposition candidate who has been recognised by the international community as having won the 23 November, 2010 presidential run-off election, has called for demonstrations this weekend to launch a 'Revolution' that would force Gbagbo to step down.

Pana 19/02/2011