Ivorian Rebel spokesman arrives to confer with JAK

The spokesman for the main Ivorian rebel movement, the Patriotic Movement of Cote d'Ivoire (MPCI) now New Force, Mr Guillaume Soro arrived in Accra on Tuesday at the head of a four-man delegation, only days after all players in the Ivorian conflict signed a communiqu? that paved the way for the formation of an interim government.

The purpose of the visit was not disclosed but it is believed the delegatio n was in Accra to confer with President John Agyekum Kufuor on the current political situation their country.

The parties to the conflict only last Saturday agreed on the formation of a new government.

President Kufuor at a meeting with the factions on Saturday told them that the new government to be formed in Cote d'Ivoire must be functional based on mutual trust.

He said it would be a very difficult task but said he was hopeful that the parties involved would focus on the work at hand to lay a solid foundation for the government to work.

The parties to the five-month-old conflict pledged to move forward the process of national reconciliation under the Marcoussis Agreement signed earlier in the year in France.

The Accra meeting was called by President Kufuor to iron out major differences that were holding back the implementation of the Marcoussis Accord.

Under the Accra Communiqu?, a 15-member National Security Council would be formed made up of all signatories to the Marcoussis Agreement.

The membership would include President Laurent Gbagbo; compromise Prime Minister Seydou Diarra; representatives of those who signed the Marcoussis Agreement; Armed Forces and Gendarmerie.

Mr Diarra would submit nominations to form a national unity government on the basis of the Agreement.

The rebels made a major concession when they dropped their insistence on the Defence and Interior portfolios. They settled for the Territorial Administration and Communications. The new government is to be in place by March 14.