But the identity of rebels who reportedly attempted a coup in the early hours of yesterday remained unclear

But the identity of "rebels" who reportedly attempted a coup in the early hours of yesterday remained unclear. Emile Boga Doudou, the Interior Minister, announced on state radio: "Rebel elements tried to take the radio, television and the residence of the President. These rebel forces have been routed."Moise Lida Kouassi, the Defence Minister, said it was too early to identify the putschists. "We're talking about individuals who had put on town clothes, civilian clothes, and who used vehicles snatched here and there from ordinary people," he said. Ministers said 15 people had been arrested in Abidjan, and two paramilitary police had been killed.Ivory Coast, once considered one of the most stable countries in Africa, has endured a year of political and ethnic tension since an army mutiny in December 1999 developed into a coup.Last October, at least 200 people died after the military leader, General Robert Guei,refused to accept the result of a presidential election won by the veteran socialist Laurent Gbagbo. Because of a "boulevard revolution" President Gbagbo came to power.During last month's parliamentary elections, the country's supreme court excluded the party of Alassane Ouattara, a presidential challenger. Constituencies in the Muslim north of the country consequently boycotted the poll.There have been rumours that General Guei is plotting a comeback. But it is possible that forces loyal to Mr Ouattara or to Henri Konan Bédí, removed from power in December 1999, had a hand in yesterday's trouble.

It is also possible that the government stage-managed the rebellion.. Two people died from cholera in southern Zimbabwe in an outbreak of the disease believed to have spread from neighboring South Africa, the Health Ministry said today. Two people died from cholera in southern Zimbabwe in an outbreak of the disease believed to have spread from neighboring South Africa, the Health Ministry said today. Health teams were sent to the border town of Beitbridge and neighboring districts to prevent the further spread of the disease, said Health Ministry spokesman Charles Viwyjayarah.The first cholera case was reported in the border town on December 31 when a South African woman complained of fever and diarrhoea.She returned home across the border. Two Zimbabweans died in the following week and seven others were successfully treated for cholera, said Viwyjayarah."A lot of people from South Africa passed through Beitbridge during the holidays," he said.The disease, spread mostly by poor sanitation and contaminated water, has claimed more than 60 lives in South Africa.. Almost six million mobile phones were bought in the past three months, bringing the total users in Britain to 40 million - more than two-thirds of the population. The sales have been boosted by an unexpectedly strong pre-Christmas market - with pay-as-you-go phones proving popular with teenagers. Almost six million mobile phones were bought in the past three months, bringing the total users in Britain to 40 million - more than two-thirds of the population.

The sales have been boosted by an unexpectedly strong pre-Christmas market - with pay-as-you-go phones proving popular with teenagers. Figures from One2One, BT Cellnet, Vodafone and Orange showed that they had added 5.66 million customers in the past quarter, giving a total of 40.03 million users in the UK.Further demand - boosted by dwindling prices - has led to Britons becoming among the world's most enthusiastic users of mobiles. The world leader is Finland - where 80 per cent of the population own a mobile.The biggest beneficiary of last quarter's sales was Orange, the France Telecom-owned operator, with 1.56 million new UK customers signed up in the three months. The group, which yesterday said it was planning to float on the London Stock Exchange later this month, said that gave it 9.83 million customers overall.BT Cellnet signed up 1.5 million customers, bringing its UK customer base to 10.2 million.Vodafone signed up 1.4 million customers, bringing its base to 11.7 million and One2One - owned by Deutsche Telekom - signed up 1.2 million customers, giving it 8.3 million customers.One2One's figures include a 262,043 increase in Virgin Mobile customers, bringing the Virgin base to 674,943. Virgin Mobile is a joint venture between Virgin and One2One.Dave McGlade, managing director of BT Cellnet, said: "BT Cellnet has delivered record growth in a buoyant seasonal market."Harris Jones, One2One's managing director, said: "2001 will be the year in which the mobile phone industry in the UK reaches a new level of maturity, both commercially and technologically."Vodafone's chief executive, Chris Gent, said when Vodafone unveiled its figures last week: "The success of our strategy is demonstrated by yet further excellent increases in customer additions throughout the world during this quarter."And Orange's Jean-François Pontal, who will become chief executive of the group when it is floated, said: "Orange is going from strength to strength, well positioned to drive the next phase of market development.".