Government, Rebels Declare War’s End

Ivory Coast’s government and rebel leaders declared an official end to this West African nation’s civil war, nine months after fighting erupted after a failed attempt to oust President Laurent Gbagbo. Army and rebel representatives addressed the nation together on national TV and were followed in their remarks by Gbagbo, who praised the return of peace to the country.

It was unclear why Friday was chosen to formally declare peace. Despite a power-sharing government, the country remains divided along cease-fire lines.