Norman man trapped in African crossfire

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A Norman man is one of about 200 U-S children and missionaries in a west African stand-off between rebel troops and government soldiers. <br><br>Mike Cousineau is a lead administrator

Wednesday, September 25th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A Norman man is one of about 200 U-S children and missionaries in a west African stand-off between rebel troops and government soldiers.

Mike Cousineau is a lead administrator at the International Christian Academy School in the Ivory Coast city of Bouake. He is also on the staff of Norman's Free Will Baptist Church.

The church's senior pastor says Cousineau called the church's national office in Nashville just before noon and that gunfire in the background kept a secretary from completely understanding him.

By late afternoon the rebels were believed to have moved away from the school.

Cousineau's wife and daughter are also in Ivory Coast but officials don't know if they are also in the school.

Cousineau has been a missionary in Ivory Coast for 20 years.