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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

COTE D'IVOIRE: Army and rebels exchange lists of prisoners

ABIDJAN, 30 July 2003 (IRIN) - The army and rebels in Cote d'Ivoire have exchanged lists of prisoners of war, but have not yet set a date for their release as moves towards disarmament face continuing political obstacles, military sources told IRIN on Wednesday.

The lists were exchanged at a meeting of military chiefs in the rebel-held town of Sakassou on Tuesday in the presence of representatives of the French and West African peacekeeping forces.

According to the website of the rebel Patriotic Movement of Cote d'Ivoire (MPCI), the government submitted the names of 50 prisoners, while the rebels came forward with a list of 44.

However, French military sources said both lists were inaccurate and the two sides had been asked to revise them.

A West African military source said a date for exchanging prisoners would only be set once the government and rebels agreed an exact list of people to be handed over.

The sources said no "real progress" was achieved at the meeting in Sakassou on starting the process of demobilisation and disarmament and reintegration, which was due to get under way in August.

The sources said rebels said they were still waiting for President Laurent Gbagbo to name new ministers of defence and internal security in the government of national reconciliation, which includes nine rebel representatives. They were also waiting for parliament to approve an amnesty for those who joined the rebel cause after civil war broke out in September last year.

Gbagbo and the broad-based cabinet headed by Prime Minister Seydou Diarra have already approved the draft amnesty law.

France and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have deployed 5,400 soldiers to enforce a peace agreement signed by the government and rebels in January.

The peacekeepers have managed to prevent fighting between the rebels, who occupy the north of Cote d'Ivoire, and the government army for the past four months.

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict, (IRIN) Governance

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