Ivory Coast’s army chiefs and military leaders of the New Forces former rebels announced at a meeting in the central rebel stronghold of Bouake that the process of disarmament would begin on December 13 with the gathering together of weapons and the lifting of barriers. A statement said the two sides had decided that from December 13 to 25 they would “gather together the light arms in armories” and withdraw heavy weapons from the front line cutting Ivory Coast from east to west. The meeting was to plot a timetable for the cantonment and disarmament of rebel forces who still hold the north and west of the country, despite the official end of the civil war five months ago. President Laurent Gbagbo last Thursday announced a December 15 start date for the rebel cantonment, prompting warnings from government loyalists that they would mount an operation to “liberate” the rebel-held zones should the New Forces fail to disarm. Full Story
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