Ghana Accuse Ivorian Gov't

.. of "Foot Dragging", as truce is delayed again

Troops have secured the front-line town of Tiebissou There has been another delay in the signing of a ceasefire between the government and rebels in Ivory Coast.

West African mediators expressed disappointment with President Gbagbo's government - which failed to send a letter of authority for anyone to sign for it in the truce ceremony.

Hundreds have been killed and thousands displaced by the uprising, which began on 19 September.

The mediators, including six foreign ministers, had hurried north for the signing ceremony, only to discover that the Ivory Coast foreign minister had not got onto the plane.

After waiting nearly 10 hours, they gave up and flew back to the commercial capital Abidjan on board a French military plane.

The BBC's Paul Welsh, who was on the plane, said ministers were very disappointed and frustrated.

The Ghanaian foreign minister accused the government of "foot-dragging".

It is the second setback in two days.

The deal was originally supposed to be signed in the capital, Yamoussoukro, on Friday, but both sides questioned the wording of the agreement and the truce ceremony was shifted to the front-line town of Tiebissou.

Rebel demands

Our correspondent says the government only agreed to talks under pressure from the mediation teams sent by neighbouring countries and has been preparing for an offensive to recapture the rebel-held north.

The rebels have been calling for the overthrow of Mr Gbagbo and for fresh elections in which all political parties would be allowed to participate.

Many of the rebels come from the largely Muslim north of the country and have long complained of discrimination by Christian southerners.