Diplomatic sources in the Ivory Coast say unidentified attackers have shot and killed a French diplomat working for the European Union.
An EU spokesman says the man, identified as Michel Niaucel, was shot with his own gun at his home in the country's commercial capital, Abidjan, on Tuesday night. The circumstances and motive for the killing, however, remain unclear.
Niaucel lived with his wife and daughter. Their home showed no sign of forced entry, but diplomatic sources said investigators have ruled out suicide.
Niaucel was in charge of security for the EU mission in Abidjan.
Approximately 10,000 U.N. and French soldiers are deployed in the Ivory Coast to oversee a ceasefire that has been in force since a civil war ended four years ago.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
