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. 
Where is the Ivory Coast?
West African nation,