IVORY Coast President Laurent Gbagbo insisted the opposition rejoin the country’s unity government after violent clashes claimed at least 25 lives and brought the peace process to the brink of collapse.

REBELS and the main opposition party withdrew from Ivory Coast's power-sharing government after security forces violently quashed an anti-government protest, killing over 30 protesters demanding implementation of a peace deal, officials said.

Security forces killed 11 demonstrators in Ivory Coast, as a massive march got under way today in the tank-guarded commercial capital, an opposition spokesman said.