Ivory Coast's justice minister says dozens of family members and domestic workers of disgraced strongman Laurent Gbagbo have been freed from detention.
Jeannot Ahoussou announced on national television late Saturday that the government released nearly 70 of about 120 people arrested when fighters stormed the presidential residence where Gbagbo had dug in for a last stand.
He said 38 were workers including cooks and gardeners.
About 30 family members, including Gbagbo's grandchildren, were taken to a secret location.
Gbagbo's former Foreign Minister Alcide Djedje said they were at an unlooted family home near the seaside resort of Grand Bassam under U.N. protection.
On Tuesday, former Interior Minister Desiree Tagro died after being shot and badly beaten during Monday's assault that ended four months of fighting over elections won by Alassane Ouattara. - Sapa-AP