Witnesses say there is new military unrest in Ivory Coast's two largest cities involving some of the soldiers who were behind a mutiny in January.

The violence comes a day after Ivorian television broadcast some of the mutinous soldiers meeting with President Alassane Ouattara. They apologized for their actions and dropped their demand for unpaid bonuses.

Tensions erupted afterward and heavy gunfire rang out overnight in the second-largest city of Bouake, according to residents on Friday.

Meanwhile, armed soldiers were demonstrating in Abidjan's Plateau district.

The mutinous soldiers are former rebels who helped put Ouattara in power after his predecessor refused to cede office after losing the 2010 election. They have sought higher pay and better living conditions, leading to the January mutiny.

AP