Peace talks at 'total deadlock'

2007-01-13 12:25

Abidjan - The peace process in Ivory Coast was at a "total deadlock", an international working group chaired by the United Nations and the African Union announced after a meeting in the capital Abidjan on Friday.

The group issued its warning three weeks before the February 1 deadline for the AU and the regional Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to reassess the situation in Ivory Coast.

It blamed the impasse on the "refusal of certain Ivorian parties to accept and apply Resolution 1721" - outlining a period of transitional government leading up to elections - despite the efforts of AU mediators.

The stalemate could "prolong the suffering of the population, aggravate political and social tensions and threaten to destabilise the west-African sub-region", said the group in a statement.

The pessimistic assessment comes as the AU and Ecowas prepare to report to the UN security council on the application of Resolution 1721 on February 1.

Rebel chief says ready to talk

It also coincides with political manoeuvres pointing to possible direct talks between President Laurent Gbagbo and rebel leaders controlling the northern half of the country.

On Friday, Gbagbo won support from the European Union for his proposal to hold direct talks, while the international work group said New Forces rebel chief Guillaume Soro had also indicated his readiness to participate.

The working group, which held talks with Soro on Friday, said the rebel leader was "disposed to accept the offer of direct dialogue" on condition that it would "accelerate the application of Resolution 1721".

It also called on the security council to push the AU and Ecowas to meet Ivorian leaders "as soon as possible" to unblock the situation.

The council should also dispatch a "mission" to Ivory Coast to "obtain firm commitments from the Ivorian parties to apply Resolution 1721".

EU commissioner for development and humanitarian aid Louis Michel, on a visit to Abidjan, said: "There is an urgency to unlock the current impasse.

Sanctions threatened

"The proposal for a direct dialogue by President Gbagbo can represent an opportunity."

Gbagbo's proposal, made in December, has also won tentative approval from former colonial power France, whose minister for co-operation met the president for talks on Friday.

Ivory Coast has been split into the rebel-held north and government-controlled south since a coup attempt against Gbagbo in 2002.

Two gendarmes and a border guard were killed overnight in an attack on a border post near Ghana, in the eastern part of the country, said government and security sources. Ten people were injured.

The security council has threatened to impose sanctions against those undermining peace and national reconciliation, committing human rights violations or obstructing the activities of peacekeepers.

Resolution 1721 asked Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny to organise presidential elections by October 2007.

- AFP