Feuding between forces of Ivory Coast's defense minister and a warlord threatens fragile peace

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) -- Volleys of gunshots erupted again in Abidjan Monday as a years-old feud between rival warlords came to a head, threatening Ivory Coast's fragile peace.

It is unclear if technocrat President Alassane Ouattara can control any of the six warlords who helped install him in power by ousting former strongman Laurent Gbagbo, who is under arrest.

The latest fighting is between the two men who fomented the 2002 rebellion that divided the country between the rebel-held north and government-run south - two-time coup plotter Ibrahim "IB" Coulibaly and Defense Minister Guillaume Soro, who also is prime minister.

They're not guys: New gear to fit female soldiers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Throughout history, military gear has been made with the male physique in mind. But for women in today's combat or close-to-combat jobs, that can mean body armor that fits so poorly it's tough to fire a weapon, combat uniforms with knee pads that hit around mid-shin and flight suits that make it nearly impossible to urinate while in a plane.

With women taking on new roles, the issue is getting fresh attention from the military.

Seven hundred female Army troops are testing a new combat uniform for women with shorter sleeves and with knee pads in the right place for their generally shorter legs. A committee on women's issues has recommended that flight suits be redesigned for both men and women so it's unnecessary to disrobe before urinating. And engineers have been looking at ways to design armor that better fits the contours of a woman's body.