New Ivory Coast PM To Meet Rebels in Ghana

Ivory Coast's new Prime Minister Seydou Diarra is due to meet northern-based rebels in neighboring Ghana Friday in an effort to avert renewed fighting.

Mr. Diarra, a former prime minister, was asked last month to form a national unity government that would include the rebels who have controlled the northern half of the country since September. The French-brokered peace accord, backed by West African leaders, gave the rebels a number of cabinet posts including the key defense and interior portfolios in the new government.

However, the Ivorian military and thousands of government supporters have asked President Laurent Gbagbo not to accept the rebels in the government.

The rebels have threatened to resume fighting by the end of the week if they are not given the positions. Troops from France, the former colonial power, have been monitoring a cease-fire.

Thursday, the rebels met with the French ambassador in their stronghold of Bouake to make their position clear.

The Bouake-based rebels are supported by two smaller factions that control large parts of the west.

Hundreds of people have been killed in the conflict, and tens of thousands of others have been displaced.