/ 1 January 2002

Ivory Coast on edge as ceasefire stalls

Negotiators trying to restore peace to the Ivory Coast have threatened to leave the West African country if the government again fails to sign a ceasefire with rebel troops, the BBC reported early on Sunday.

Signing ceremonies had been planned on Friday and Saturday. Disagreements over the pact’s text postponed Friday’s ceremony.

Then on Saturday, the negotiators, who include six foreign ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), had flown halfway across the Ivory Coast for a signing only to learn that the government had failed to send an official with the authority to ink the agreement.

They said they would leave if a third attempt on Sunday also fails. The BBC reported that an envoy from Ghana accused the government of ”foot-dragging” and all the peace negotiators were frustrated on Saturday upon leaving the disputed city of Tiebissou, north of the capital Yamoussoukro.

The government had planned to take back the rebel-held north and only agreed to negotiations under pressure from Ecowas, the BBC said.

The revolt began on September 19 by rebel soldiers demanding the resignation of President Laurent Gbagbo and new elections. Many of the insurgents come from the primarily Muslim north and complain of discrimination by the Christian south.

About 400 people have died in the insurgency, and thousands have been forced to flee. – Sapa-DPA