President, rebel leader sign accord
Ivory Coast’s president signed a peace accord with the country’s main rebel leader, calling for a new government to hold elections by year’s end, and for the dismantling of a vast buffer zone separating the two sides.
President Laurent Gbagbo and rebel leader Guillaume Soro agreed to form a unity government within five weeks and create a military command that would include rebel and army officials.
The deal came after a series of United Nations-backed plans failed to deliver long-delayed elections in the country, divided since a 2002-03 civil war.
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