Ivory Coast's government and rebel troops reached a deal at talks in second city Bouake late Friday, government sources said, even as gunfire was heard near the barracks in the capital.

"A deal has been reached in Bouake between the chief of staff, the defence minister and the (rebel) troops," a source close to the presidency told AFP.

A second source said rebel troops had agreed to return to their barracks, days after a brief mutiny by the armed forces.