As the attack happened in Mr Soro's own stronghold, suspicion fell first on disgruntled dissident rebels.

ECONOMIST: C?te d'Ivoire

Mr Soro insists that his men will disarm, but only when the pro-government militias do, too.

ECONOMIST: The UN's tough task in C?te d'Ivoire

IB, are dissatisfied with Mr Soro, who has had to deny rumours that two of his senior commanders were involved in the attack.

ECONOMIST: C?te d'Ivoire

State television, even while Mr Soro was supposed to be in charge of it, has devoted much airtime to such insults, and to Mr Gbagbo's insinuation that the rebels are stooges of next-door Burkina Faso.

ECONOMIST: The problems are the same as ever, and now the shooting too