Côte d’Ivoire opposition group leaders will arrive in Pretoria on Thursday for a second stage of talks to resolve the crisis in that country, South African Broadcasting Corporation news said on Wednesday.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad said the delegation will include former prime minister and opposition leader Alassane Outtara, as well as rebel leaders.
He said the talks will work to restore earlier ceasefire agreements, and pave the way for free and transparent elections next year.
The once-peaceful West African country has been ripped apart by fighting between the rebel-held north and the government-controlled south in the past few years.
Clashes between the government, rebels and the French military shattered an 18-month-old ceasefire this week, and killed at least 145 people.
South African President Thabo Mbeki was asked to intervene to try to restore peace.
Mbeki led a one-day mission to the country on Tuesday, accompanied by Pahad and Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota.
After meeting with his Ivorian counterpart, Laurent Gbagbo, Mbeki said he was ”pleased” by his commitment to restoring peace in Côte d’Ivoire.
The delegation returned to South Africa early on Wednesday morning. It will now report back to the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States.
Mbeki is reportedly scheduled to meet the head of the European Union, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, next week to discuss Côte d’Ivoire. — Sapa
Foreigners, citizens flee violence