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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| Ivory Coast to announce new unity government |
| 2003-03-13 |
| War-torn Ivory Coastâs unity government was to be officially named on Thursday, but the main opposition leader said inadequate security in the country would prevent his partyâs members from attending the first cabinet session. The new cabinet under Prime Minister Seydou Diarra, who has been handed sweeping powers to end a six-month rebel war, will have 41 members from the political opposition, rebel movements and President Laurent Gbagboâs party, news reports said. The main opposition Rally of Republicans (RDR) party is to have seven members, including two ministers of state. But RDR leader Alassane Ouattara said in a letter to Diarra his members will not be able to attend the first cabinet meetingin the capital Yamoussoukro. âAs you know, several RDR officials, including those named to join the government of national reconciliation, are outside the country due to the numerous executions and killings of our militants and officials in recent months,â he said in the letter, a copy of which AFP obtained late Wednesday. That happens when you invite Liberians in, doesn't it? He called on Diarra to take âmeasures to allow the ministers to take up their posts under satisfactory security conditions.â The formation of the power-sharing government was facilitated by a breakthrough during peace talks in Ghana at the weekend. Rebels behind the six-month war gave up their claims to the security ministries in the proposed unity government, thereby removing a major hurdle in the implementation of a French-brokered peace deal accepted by Gbagbo in late January. So they dumped what the Frenchies came up with, and came up with something that they think will work. Okay by me, I guess... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |