I Coast: The war is over

2005-04-06 18:39

Pretoria - Ivory Coast government, rebel and opposition leaders on Wednesday declared an end to the war in that country.

"The parties... hereby solemnly declare the immediate and final cessation of all hostilities and the end of the war through the national territory," reads an agreement signed in Pretoria after four days of peace talks.

"In this regard, they unequivocally repudiate the use of force as a means to resolve differences amongst themselves."

The document was signed by Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, Prime Minister Seydou Diarra, Henri Bedie on behalf of the Parti Democratique de Cote D'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara for the opposition Rassemblement de Republicains, rebel New Forces leader Guillaume Soro and African Union-appointed mediator President Thabo Mbeki.

The South African president said he was inspired by the interaction between the Ivorian leaders in peace talks held at the presidential guesthouse since Sunday.

"We have all of us agreed to this text," he announced. "We have addressed all the outstanding matters."

The document outlines steps for the disarmament and demobilisation of armed groups, addressing security concerns, and holding elections in October.

The issue of the eligibility criteria for presidential candidates should be concluded within a week, Mbeki said.

Gbagbo welcomed the agreement, saying: "I think the objective is near."

Speaking on behalf of all political parties and the New Forces, he recommitted the country to disarmament and elections.

"Only elections can establish the authority of the state," Gbagbo said.

Bedie said the latest peace deal reaffirmed a collective will to end the Ivorian war.

"The signing of this document gives us hope that the suffering of the people of the Ivory Coast... will end."

Both hailed Mbeki for his mediating role and his "good sense of refereeing".

Immediate disarmament of militia

The mediator would report on the outcome to the United Nations Security Council within three weeks.

The term of a French and UN peacekeeping mission, which ended this week, was extended by a month on Monday to give the Pretoria talks a chance.

Under the agreement, the chiefs of staff of the Ivorian national and rebel armed forces would "immediately" start enforcing a disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration plan.

Assisted by a team of experts, they would formulate recommendations for the formation of a single army.

The first meeting would be next Thursday.

The deal provides for the immediate disarmament of pro-government militia and the training of New Forces soldiers to help enforce security in areas under the rebel body's control.

The New Forces agreed to return to the government and accepted plans for the security of its ministers.

Each signatory would be allowed to nominate representatives to the country's electoral commission.

The UN would be invited to participate in the work of the electoral commission to ensure the poll was free and fair. Mbeki was mandated to approach the UN in this regard.

- SAPA