Partial Agreement in Ivory Coast - 2002-11-02

The government of Ivory Coast and the rebels controlling half of the country have reached a partial agreement to end a six-week rebellion. This agreement was reached on Friday in Lome, the Togolese capital, where both sides had been negotiating since Wednesday. According to the limited agreement, the Ivorian government will grant amnesty to rebel soldiers who are imprisoned or in exile and will reintegrate the rebels back into the army. In return, the rebels will open a passage for humanitarian aid and civilian supplies that pass through areas under their control. Negotiations are set to resume on Monday, focusing on the main demands of both sides. Since the start of the rebellion on September 19, hundreds have been killed. Recent reports indicate that thousands of demonstrators, holding Ivorian flags, marched in Abidjan, the capital, calling for peace and expressing their support for President Laurent Gbagbo. The march followed reports of progress in the negotiations between the Ivorian government and rebel negotiators to end the six-week uprising. The Ivorian government has agreed to ask the country's parliament to pardon the rebel soldiers currently in prison or in exile. The discussions will resume on Monday in Lome, where two main issues will be negotiated: the government's demand for disarmament of the rebels and the rebels' demand for new elections.