Talks on I Coast crisis resume

2006-10-17 13:10

Addis Ababa - African leaders began talks aimed at finding a resolution to the four-year old political crisis that had rocked the troubled Ivory Coast.

Heads of state from eight of the 15 members of the African Union peace and security council (PSC), alongside embattled Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Charles Konana Banny, were meeting at the pan-African body's headquarters.

They were studying recommendations submitted by west African leaders at a summit earlier this month on how to resolve the crises that had split Ivory Coast into two since a failed 2002 coup to oust Gbagbo.

The proposals called for the extension of Gbagbo's and Banny's terms in office, which were due to expire at the end of this month when twice-delayed elections were to be held.

The recommendations by the west Africa Ecowas bloc, called for the transition period to be further extended by year.

Polls 'can't be held as scheduled'

It said: "The (Ecowas) heads of state and government took note of the imminent expiration of the transition period on October 31 2006.

"Considering that the planned election cannot be held as scheduled, they recommended that a new transition period not exceeding 12 months should be established commencing from November 1 2006."

A senior AU diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity said those proposals would "definitely be endorsed, and strengthened by the PSC".

The UN accorded a similar extension last year, prolonging Gbagbo's mandate - scheduled to end by last October at the expiry of his five-year term - by one year until presidential and general elections were held.

During the weekend, the UN announced that it would postpone the planned elections for up to a year, and predicted that a new security council resolution would be passed in a fresh bid to secure peace.

Gbagbo 'shall remain the head of state'

Ecowas' proposals also outlined the terms of office for Gbagbo and Banny, as well as reforms needed to create a unified armed force.

They said: "President Gbagbo shall remain the head of state until the end of the transition period.

"The prime minister shall also have necessary authority over the defence and security forces to enable him achieve the tasks assigned to him."

In addition to the internal Ivorian recommendations, the leaders at Tuesday meeting were expected to discuss the future of mediation efforts by South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Diplomats said Ecowas was pressing for Mbeki's departure because he was seen as too close to Gbagbo to fulfil his function.

The UN security council would submit the outcome of Tuesday?s discussions for consideration, which was to discuss the matter on October 25.

- AFP