Rocket hits Ivorian premier's plane, three killed

BOUAKE, Ivory Coast, June 29 (Reuters) Ivory Coast's Prime Minister Guillaume Soro escaped unhurt when his plane was hit by a rocket on arrival at the rebel stronghold Bouake today, but three others were killed, witnesses said.

Soro, head of the northern New Forces rebels who seized the north of the West African country during a brief 2002-2003 civil war, was named prime minister in April after he signed a peace deal with President Laurent Gbagbo to guide the country to long-delayed elections.

''In the prime minister's cabin I could see three dead bodies that I could not identify,'' Allan Aliali, a journalist for Gbagbo's party newspaper Notre Voie who was on board the plane, told UN radio.

A Reuters reporter later saw Soro arrive unharmed at the rebels' headquarters in the town, although other members of his entourage had visible injuries. Rebel reinforcements were seen deploying immediately to the airport.

Soro's aides said the plane came under rocket attack from unknown assailants.

Ivory Coast is the world's top cocoa producer. News of the attack pushed cocoa futures prices in London and New York to four-year highs.

''France strongly condemns this cowardly attack and reaffirms its solidarity with the whole Ivory Coast nation and people,'' French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement.

France, which ruled Ivory Coast until independence in 1960, has troops stationed in the country helping back up a United Nations peacekeeping force.

REUTERS SKB PM1943