All major parties represented in new government

For the first time since elections two years ago ended a military-led regime, Cote d'Ivoire's main political parties are all represented in government as a result of a cabinet reshuffle announced on Monday. The ruling Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI) party has 20 ministers in the new 37-member cabinet, announced by President Laurent Gbagbo. Four are from the opposition Rassemblement des Republicains (RDR) led by former prime minister Alassane Ouattara. This is the first time the RDR is participating in government since presidential elections in October 2000, won by Gbagbo. Seven ministers are from the former ruling Parti democratique de Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI), two are from the Parti ivoirien du travail and one is from the Union pour la democratie et la paix en Cote d’Ivoire (UDPCI), led by former military leader General Robert Guei. Guei ruled Cote d'Ivoire from December 1999, when PDCI’s Henri Konan Bedie was overthrown in a bloodless coup, to October 2000. News organisations said the inclusion of all major political parties in the government was expected to reduce tension in the country. "At last they are united," read a headline in the official Fraternite Matin daily. In July, Gbagbo had met with Ouattara and PDCI leader Henri Konan Bedie to discuss the formation of a government on national unity to enhance peace in the country, in keeping with an earlier agreement. Several ministers from the ruling party who were in the former 28-member cabinet, including Prime Minister Affi N'Guessan and the ministers of defence, interior, economy and finance, mines and energy, and foreign affairs retained their portfolios. Six others were dropped.