Cote d'Ivoire Rebel Force Will Join Govt.: Togolese President

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 20, 2003

Cote d'Ivoire Rebel Force Will Join Govt.: Togolese President

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema said in Paris Wednesday that the rebel Patriotic Movement of Cote d'Ivoire (MPCI) will join the Cote d'Ivoire government of reconciliation led by Prime Minister Seydou Diarra.

The Togolese president, who is in Paris to attend the 22nd Africa-France summit due to be held here on Thursday and Friday, made this remarks following his meeting with French President Jacques Chirac at the French presidential palace of Elysee.

"All is going on good path. We are at the point of finding a solution with the help of France," said Eyadema, referring to the implementation of a French-brokered peace deal reached here on Jan.24 aimed at resolving the five-month civil war in west African country.

"The rebels will enter in the new government. It is up to the prime minister who will discuss with his head of state to decide the posts that will be given to the rebels," he said.

"The prime minister will try to examine the competence of each," he added, without giving a date by which the MPCI representatives will enter the government.

Under the peace deal, Cote d'Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo was to share power with rebel forces and opposition political parties with a government of unity led by Diarra.

The MPCI, the biggest of the three rebel forces in Cote d'Ivoire, holds the northern half of the country since the military uprisings in September 2002.

However, Gbagbo announced earlier in February that he only accepted the "spirit" of the deal and armed forces loyal to him refused to let rebels join the government, which brought the peacedeal close to collapse.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Cote d'Ivoire army announced it wouldaccept rebels in the new government but not in key ministries.

Gbagbo is not attending the summit here due to "the wartime situation" in Cote d'Ivoire, one of his aids announced Monday.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Gov't of Cote d'Ivoire, Rebel Groups Sign Truce in Togo

Cote d'Ivoire Peace Deal Reached in Paris

Global Protest against Possible War on Iraq ( 8 Messages)

Price Falls not to Hinder China's Economic Growth ( 2 Messages)

"Shenzhou V" Spacecraft Starts General Assembling, to be Launched This Fall ( 2 Messages)

Resolved to Recover Lost Cultural Relics in Overseas ( 3 Messages)

China to Maintain Unemployment Rate Within 4.5% in 2003 ( 2 Messages)