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| Ivorian leader in landmark visit | Ivorian leader in landmark visit |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has arrived in the former rebel-held north for the first time since 2002, when an uprising against him split the country. | |
| Mr Gbagbo is in Bouake - the stronghold of the former New Forces rebels. | |
| He is to attend a "flame of peace" ceremony, during which stockpiled weapons will be burned to symbolise the start of disarmament in the north. | He is to attend a "flame of peace" ceremony, during which stockpiled weapons will be burned to symbolise the start of disarmament in the north. |
| Mr Gbagbo signed a peace deal in March with ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro, who was later named as prime minister. | Mr Gbagbo signed a peace deal in March with ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro, who was later named as prime minister. |
| More than 1,000 troops - government and ex-militants - are to join forces to provide security for officials. UN and French peacekeepers will police the crowds. | |
| Q&A: Ivory Coast's crisis | Q&A: Ivory Coast's crisis |
| "It is a powerful symbol of reunification. Loyalist soldiers will be side-by-side with rebel soldiers. The war is truly over," said Mr Gbagbo's spokesman, Gervais Coulibaly. | "It is a powerful symbol of reunification. Loyalist soldiers will be side-by-side with rebel soldiers. The war is truly over," said Mr Gbagbo's spokesman, Gervais Coulibaly. |
| The president, who has declared Monday a public holiday, has invited leaders of other African nations including Burkina Faso, South Africa, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Mali, Senegal. | The president, who has declared Monday a public holiday, has invited leaders of other African nations including Burkina Faso, South Africa, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Mali, Senegal. |
| A series of concerts was also planned on Sunday night in Bouake's 26,000-capacity football stadium, where Monday's ceremony will also take place. | A series of concerts was also planned on Sunday night in Bouake's 26,000-capacity football stadium, where Monday's ceremony will also take place. |
| 'Real progress' | 'Real progress' |
| New Forces rebels seized northern Ivory Coast in September 2002 and accused President Gbagbo of discriminating against northerners and Muslims. | New Forces rebels seized northern Ivory Coast in September 2002 and accused President Gbagbo of discriminating against northerners and Muslims. |
| Following a peace agreement in March this year, brokered in Burkina Faso, Mr Gbagbo appointed former rebel leader Guillaume Soro as prime minister. | Following a peace agreement in March this year, brokered in Burkina Faso, Mr Gbagbo appointed former rebel leader Guillaume Soro as prime minister. |
| Mr Soro reached a deal with his former foe, President GbagboA new government was formed, and an amnesty law created by presidential decree which covered almost all crimes committed by both belligerent parties. | Mr Soro reached a deal with his former foe, President GbagboA new government was formed, and an amnesty law created by presidential decree which covered almost all crimes committed by both belligerent parties. |
| Mr Gbagbo and Mr Soro agreed a deal to reunite the country and hold elections, which have repeatedly been cancelled, by early 2008. | Mr Gbagbo and Mr Soro agreed a deal to reunite the country and hold elections, which have repeatedly been cancelled, by early 2008. |
| Under that deal, a buffer zone patrolled by UN and French peacekeepers between the two forces has been dismantled. Correspondents say there has been no serious fighting since November 2004, and in recent times the peace process had seemed to be making real progress. | |