US lauds Mbeki's peace bid
2004-12-08 08:42
Washington - The United States on Tuesday praised the efforts of President Thabo Mbeki who, on the behalf of the African Union, has vied to restart the peace process in the Ivory Coast.
"The United States commends the efforts of South African President Mbeki, on behalf of the African Union, to restart the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire," deputy state department spokesperson Adam Ereli said in a statement using the French name for Ivory Coast.
"President Mbeki's mediation efforts come at a crucial time following the eruption of fighting and civil unrest that occurred in early November," Ereli said.
"We continue to urge the parties in Cote d'Ivoire to implement all of their commitments under the Linas-Marcoussis Accords and subsequent agreements, so that the people of Cote d'Ivoire can put this crisis behind them and move forward to free and fair elections with the assistance of the international community," he added.
Mbeki has led a second peace mission to the troubled west African state to propose steps to resolve the country's conflict.
Ivory Coast has been divided since rebels failed in a bid to oust President Laurent Gbagbo in September 2002. The conflict had simmered at a low-level since then but escalated sharply last month when the Ivorian armed forces bombarded key towns in the northern, rebel-held part of Ivory Coast.