President Thabo Mbeki has invited Ivorian leaders and politicians to South Africa for more talks to try to bring peace to that country, a spokesman said on Friday.
”Everybody who met us in previous discussions — across the political spectrum — has been invited,” said presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo.
He said it had not yet been confirmed who had accepted the invitation.
Earlier Ivorian radio reported that the country’s president, Laurent Gbagbo, would meet Mbeki for talks ”at the end of the week”, Agence France Press said.
The country’s rebel New Forces had also accepted the invitation, AFP said.
Khumalo could not confirm this, but said more details on those participating would be available on Tuesday.
The West African country has been torn apart by conflict since 2002, when military rebels launched a failed coup against Gbagbo. They now control the northern half of the country.
The African Union appointed Mbeki as a mediator in November last year but there has so far been little progress towards disarmament or peace.
”The situation in the Cote d’Ivoire is not going to be solved with one or two meetings. There need to be a series of meetings,” Khumalo said on Friday.
He said the South African government would pay for all talks hosted in the country.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa could not give more details on Friday about the meeting. – Sapa