UN meets with Ivory Coast rebels

A UN delegation met former Ivory Coast rebels in their central stronghold Bouake at the weekend to discuss issues preventing the rebels from returning to the unity government they quit in September, UN sources said yesterday.

Calling his meeting with rebel leader Guillaume Soro a “good” one, the UN special envoy to the divided west African state, Albert Tevoedjre, said discussions also centred on the possibility of expanding the presence of the UN mission to Ivory Coast.