An Ivory Coast military spokesman says that Guinean soldiers have occupied a border village in western Ivorian territory.

Col. Cherif Moussa said Tuesday that the seizure of Kpeaba village was part of a territorial dispute between the two countries dating back to Ivory Coast's independence in 1960.

He said the village had been occupied since the beginning of February.

Moussa said Ivory Coast has soldiers positioned five kilometers (3 miles) from Kpeaba but said that "diplomacy will play its role" in resolving the dispute.