Cote d'Ivoire Rebel Head Calls for UN, French Mediation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 24, 2002

Cote d'Ivoire Rebel Head Calls for UN, French Mediation

Head of the main rebel force in Cote d'Ivoire Guillaume Soro on Monday called on the United Nations and France to help mediate the crisis that has lasted three months in his country.

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Head of the main rebel force in Cote d'Ivoire Guillaume Soro on Monday called on the United Nations and France to help mediate the crisis that has lasted three months in his country.

"I fully agree that France plays a role of mediation alongside the United Nations," said Soro, leader of the Patriotic Movement of Cote d'Ivoire (MPCI), in an interview published in French dailyLa Croix.

He also said he is ready to come to Paris to join an eventual French-hosted mediation talk.

"I no longer and not at all believe in African negotiations on Cote d'Ivoire. Nothing concrete has been produced for peace," saidSoro, who has won control the Muslim-dominated northern part of Cote d'Ivoire since September when his troops launched armed uprisings against the government.

For Soro, the African efforts at bringing peace back to Cote d'Ivoire failed because of diversified opinions of heads of the African states that joined the mediation talks.

In October, African nations -- working within the framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) -- brokereda deal among rebel and government forces in Cote d'Ivoire.

The cease-fire, to which Soro and his MPCI were engaged, was proved fragile as fighting kept going on and two new rebel groups emerged, spreading the war to the entire country.

In the interview, Soro said two other rebel groups -- the Far West Cote d'Ivoire People's Movement (MPIGO) and the Movement for Justice and Peace (MJP) -- offered to form a coalition with the MPCI.

"For the moment, we have not replied. We are watching them," said Soro.

France, former colonial power in Cote d'Ivoire, sent troops there to protect French and other foreign citizens when the conflicts broke out.

As the situation worsened, France sent military reinforcements with an order to fire at anyone who obstructs their mission. It now has about 2,300 to 2,500 troops in the west African country --once a prosperous economy and the world's top cocoa producer.

France also offered to hold mediation talks in Paris while reaffirming support to African efforts.

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