Ivory Coast rebels start to disarm

By BENOIT HILI Associated Press Writer

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) - Rebels in Ivory Coast have begun to disarm, a crucial step toward long-awaited presidential elections that many hope will secure an end to years of war, officials said Sunday.

About 1,000 rebels have arrived since Friday at a demobilization center in the northern city of Bouake, a former rebel stronghold. In all, about 43,000 rebels are expected to lay down their arms over a five-month period at six demobilization sites in the north and west. Some 26,000 will be reintegrated into civilian life, and the remainder will be integrated into the national army.

In a statement, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, the former rebel leader, congratulated his fighters for starting the process, sending a "strong signal" that the peace accord signed in Burkina Faso last year is being implemented.

Defense Minister Michel Amani Nguessan called the move "irreversible," and said it "should represent an end to the mistrust ... we've seen since the start of this crisis."

Rebels took up arms in 2002, seizing the northern half of the country. Though the nation was officially reunited last year after the Burkina Faso accord, former rebel soldiers have retained de facto control of the northern half of the world's leading cocoa producer.

Rebels have promised to lay down their arms several times in the past, but previous attempts have failed.

President Laurent Gbagbo's five-year mandate officially expired in October 2005, but he has stayed in power since then, citing a constitutional clause that allows the head of state to extend his term if required by war or crisis.

Electoral officials say elections will be held Nov. 30.