LARGE FILE SIZE OF AGR103. A body lays on the beach were gunmen attacked people in Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast, Sunday, March 13, 2016. At least six armed men attacked beachgoers outside three hotels Sunday in Grand-Bassam, killing several civilians and special forces, sending tourists fleeing through the historic Ivory Coast resort town. (AP Photo/Christin Roby )
The Associated Press
GRAND-BASSAM, Ivory Coast (AP) - The Latest on Ivory Coast beach attack. (all times local):
14:00
Pope Francis has condemned as "hateful" the Ivory Coast attacks and sent a telegram of condolences for the victims. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, sent the telegram to the bishop of Grand-Bassam, Monsignor Raymond Ahoua on Monday.
It said the pope is praying for the dead and wanted to express his solidarity with the country's people. He said "he once again condemns violence and hatred in all its forms."
___
13:15
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara met with Cabinet ministers and his National Security Council on Monday for an emergency meeting following the attack by Islamic extremists on the beach resort town of Grand-Bassam which killed 16. The Twitter feed for Ouattara's his office said a minute of silence was observed during the meeting.
___
12:55 p.m.
The German news agency is reporting that the German woman who was killed in Ivory Coast was the head of the Goethe Institute there. The news agency reported that Henrike Grohs, 51, headed the German language and culture institute in Ivory Coast since 2013.
Other foreigners among the 16 killed in the attack by Islamic extremists include people from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, France and Mali.
___
12:40 p.m.
Ivory Coast security forces briefly cleared a section of beach in Grand-Bassam on Monday after receiving reports that explosives had been found there.
Authorities roped off two small sections of the beach at La Nouvelle Paillote hotel, one of three hotels targeted in Sunday's attack by Islamic extremists that left 16 dead.
Witnesses said the explosives were found near where two of the attackers were shot dead by Ivorian special forces Sunday afternoon. Officials have said six assailants were killed. The beach was re-opened about 30 minutes later.
Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara, center, visits the area were gunmen attacked people in Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast, March 13, 2016. At least six armed men attacked beachgoers outside three hotels Sunday in Grand-Bassam, killing several civilians and special forces, sending tourists fleeing through the historic Ivory Coast resort town. (AP Photo/Christin Roby )
The Associated Press
A soldier, center, stands guard outside the Etoile du Sud hotel were gunmen attacked people in Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast, March 13, 2016. At least six armed men attacked beachgoers outside three hotels Sunday in Grand-Bassam, killing several civilians and special forces, sending tourists fleeing through the historic Ivory Coast resort town. (AP Photo/Christin Roby )
The Associated Press
Security forces gathering around the scene were gunmen attacked people in Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast, March 13, 2016. At least six armed men attacked beachgoers outside three hotels Sunday in Grand-Bassam, killing several civilians and special forces, sending tourists fleeing through the historic Ivory Coast resort town. (AP Photo/Christin Roby )
The Associated Press
A soldier, center, stands guard outside the Etoile du Sud hotel were gunmen attacked people in Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast, March 13, 2016. At least six armed men attacked beachgoers outside three hotels Sunday in Grand-Bassam, killing several civilians and special forces, sending tourists fleeing through the historic Ivory Coast resort town. (AP Photo/Christin Roby )
The Associated Press
This image made available by RTI via Associated Press television shows a dead body laying by a car after an attack in Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast, Sunday March 13, 2016. At least six armed men attacked beachgoers outside three hotels Sunday in Grand-Bassam, killing several civilians and special forces, sending tourists fleeing through the historic Ivory Coast resort town. Bloody bodies were sprawled on the beach before being taken away by security forces and Ivorian Red Cross workers. (RTI via AP) IVORY COAST OUT
The Associated Press
This image made available by RTI via Associated Press television shows various soldiers beside a military vehicle close to a beach in Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast, Sunday March 13, 2016. At least six armed men attacked beachgoers outside three hotels Sunday in Grand-Bassam, killing several civilians and special forces, sending tourists fleeing through the historic Ivory Coast resort town. Bloody bodies were sprawled on the beach before being taken away by security forces and Ivorian Red Cross workers. (RTI via AP) IVORY COAST OUT
The Associated Press