Abidjan, Ivory Coast (CNN) -- Three top allies of Ivory Coast's former president, Laurent Gbagbo, have been arrested in less than a week, raising political tension in the West African nation, where the nation's army has been hit by weeks of attacks. 

Laurent Akoun, general secretary of the Front Populaire Ivoirien, Ivory Coast's former ruling party, was arrested on Sunday in Adzope, 100 kilometers east of Abidjan, the nation's economic capital and most populous city, party officials said. 

Akoun was arrested for having defamed President Alassane Ouattara during a recent meeting with some of the party's members and supporters in an Abidjan cafe, said Sylvain Miaka Oureto, the party's leader. He also is accused of harming state security because of what he said during the meeting, Oureto said. 

He said Akoun was still in custody Monday evening. 

Akoun, the current deputy chief of the party, was heading to a party rally when the nation's gendarmerie -- a paramilitary force -- arrested him and transferred him to Abidjan, said Augustin Guehoun, the head of communication for the party. 

His arrest follows that of two former Gbagbo Cabinet ministers, one of them in Ghana, where he had sought refuge. 

Oureto said the series of arrests against the party's high-ranking officials is intended to "behead the Front Populaire Ivoirien." He said the government is "man hunting" against the leaders of the party. 

At least seven attacks have been carried out since August 5 by unidentified gunmen against the Forces Republicaines de CÃ´te d'Ivoire, Ivory Coast's national army. At least 17 people were killed in the attacks, including 10 Ivorian soldiers. 
Who is Ivory Coast's former president?
Who was arrested?
In what time frame?
Where is the Ivory Coast?
Who is Laurent Akoun?
What is Front Populaire Ivoirien? (no worries)
When was she arrested?
Where?
Where is Abidjan?
What is Abidjan?
Was the party meeting in a cafe?
In what city?
Who is the party's leader?
Is Akoun still in custody?
Who else was arrested?
Laurent Gbagbo
Ivory Coast's former president, Laurent Gbagbo
Three top allies.
Three top allies of Ivory Coast's former president, Laurent Gbagbo, have been arrested
Less than a week
have been arrested in less than a week,
West African
West African nation,
Laurent Akoun, general secretary of the Front Populaire Ivoirien
Laurent Akoun, general secretary of the Front Populaire Ivoirien
Ivory Coast's former ruling party.
Front Populaire Ivoirien, Ivory Coast's former ruling party
Sunday
 was arrested on Sunday 
In Adzope
was arrested on Sunday in Adzope
Ivory Coast
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Yes.
meeting with some of the party's members and supporters in an Abidjan cafe
Abidjan
meeting with some of the party's members and supporters in an Abidjan cafe,
Alassane Ouattara
defamed President Alassane Ouattara 
Yes
Akoun was still in custody
Two former Gbagbo Cabinet ministers
that of two former Gbagbo Cabinet ministers,