Regional force to deploy next week

West African defence chiefs decided on Thursday to start deployment of a regional peacekeeping force to Cote d’Ivoire next week. The decision came at a meeting in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Cheick Diarra, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), told reporters at the end of the two-day meeting that the size of the force to be deployed had been cut from the proposed 2,000 to 1,500. It will replace French troops monitoring a 17 October ceasefire between government forces and rebels who took up arms on 19 September. The insurgents control much of the north and centre of the country. "What we are trying to do is have the force in as soon as possible to create confidence," Diarra said. Troop contributing countries include Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal and Togo. France, Britain and the United States have pledged to fund the operation, with additional help expected from Germany, Canada and The Netherlands. Regional power Nigeria, which had earlier in the conflict indicated readiness to participate, opted out of the mission. However, Diarra still hoped the country that led previous peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone would participate. "We hope Nigeria will assist us and be part of this mission," he said. "We don't see a mission without Nigeria, this is our opinion." Since last week, delegations both sides to the fighting have been engaged in talks in the Togolese capital, Lome, under the auspices of ECOWAS, to seek an end to the conflict which threatens the stability of the entire West Africa.