African ministers agree to send 2,000 troops to Ivory Coast

West African ministers have agreed to send 2,000 troops to Ivory Coast to replace French soldiers monitoring a week-old truce.

Talks are expected early next week between the government and rebels, who have seized half the country since launching a failed coup attempt.

Regional leaders have been mediating between the warring parties in what was long West Africa's economic powerhouse.

An Economic Community of West African States force - known as ECOMOG - will start replacing the French troops in around two weeks.

Secretary-general Mohammed Ibn Chambas said: "We have a timeframe of about 10 to 15 days for the first deployment."

Nine countries have pledged to provide troops. They are Benin, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Togo and Senegal.

Mr Chambas says the military commander of the regional force will come from Senegal, as it is expected to provide the largest contingent of troops.

The conflict erupted when a group of about 800 soldiers attempted a coup on September 19.

Rebels have since taken up positions in the northern half of the West African nation.

Both sides signed a cessation of hostilities last week and agreed to talk.