Dialogue Between Ivorian Government Officials and Rebel Representatives - 2002-10-30

The dialogue between Ivorian government officials and representatives of the rebel soldiers has begun in order to end the five-week civil war. Representatives from both sides have directly engaged in discussions at the residence of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Togo, in Lomé, the capital of Togo. This is the first face-to-face meeting between the two conflicting parties since the uprising began in this West African country on September 19. A one-week ceasefire between the two sides is ongoing, and French soldiers have established a buffer zone between the conflicting parties. The rebel soldiers, who control the northern part of the country, are demanding the resignation of Laurent Gbagbo, the President of Ivory Coast, and new presidential elections. Mr. Gbagbo has called for the disarmament of the rebel soldiers. So far, hundreds have been killed and thousands have been displaced due to the civil war in Ivory Coast. Peace talks between the Ivorian officials and the rebel representatives are resuming today (Thursday). They began preliminary negotiations on Wednesday in Lomé, the capital of Togo. This session, arranged by West African mediators, marks the first direct contact between the two sides since the uprising began on September 19. Local officials expect the negotiations to conclude today, while they note that both sides must resolve some major issues before signing a peace agreement. The Ivorian government wants the rebels to disarm, while the rebels have requested the president's resignation. The aim of the negotiations is to end a six-week uprising that has divided the country and led to the deaths of hundreds.