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Ivory Coast to drop buffer zone Ivory Coast to drop buffer zone
(about 4 hours later)
A demilitarised zone dividing Ivory Coast in two is due to start being dismantled shortly. Ceremonies have begun to mark the removal of a buffer zone that has divided Ivory Coast for five years.
The 600km-long zone between the loyalist army and northern rebels has been patrolled by 11,000 French and UN peacekeepers to keep the rivals apart. President Laurent Gbagbo and former rebel leader, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, jointly inspected government troops and former rebel soldiers.
They will form a joint force to patrol the zone separating the rebel-run north from the government-controlled south.
The 600km-long zone has been patrolled by 11,000 French and UN peacekeepers to keep the rivals apart.
A BBC correspondent says this is seen a as a major step towards reunifying the country and holding elections.A BBC correspondent says this is seen a as a major step towards reunifying the country and holding elections.
He says there has been an extraordinary thaw between President Laurent Gbagbo and rebel leader Guillaume Soro. He says there has been an extraordinary thaw between President Gbagbo and Mr Soro - who was last month named as prime minister, following a peace deal between the two men.
Mr Soro was last month named as prime minister, following a peace deal between the two men.
The BBC's James Copnall in Abidjan says the buffer zone has effectively split Ivory Coast into two countries.The BBC's James Copnall in Abidjan says the buffer zone has effectively split Ivory Coast into two countries.
Travelling between the government-controlled south and the rebel-held north has been possible, but it has never been easy thanks to road blocks and mutual suspicion, he says.Travelling between the government-controlled south and the rebel-held north has been possible, but it has never been easy thanks to road blocks and mutual suspicion, he says.
Now the confidence zone is to be dismantled, though the process will take several weeks.Now the confidence zone is to be dismantled, though the process will take several weeks.
The UN and French will withdraw to 17 observation posts and the loyalist and rebel armies will mount joint patrols.The UN and French will withdraw to 17 observation posts and the loyalist and rebel armies will mount joint patrols.
But the man Mr Soro replaced, Charles Konan Banny, has his doubts about the peace process.But the man Mr Soro replaced, Charles Konan Banny, has his doubts about the peace process.
He spoke for many Ivorians when he told the BBC he feared both President Gbagbo and Mr Soro had hidden agendas which would compromise the chances of free and fair polls.He spoke for many Ivorians when he told the BBC he feared both President Gbagbo and Mr Soro had hidden agendas which would compromise the chances of free and fair polls.