General Guei to address forum

In a move seen as a positive contribution to the resolution of some of Cote d'Ivoire's socio-political problems, former military ruler, General Robert Guei, is slated to address the National Reconciliation Forum on Monday, state television, RTI, reported on Friday.

General Guei's decision, announced in Lome, Togo, followed a meeting between him and Togolese president Gnassingbe Eyadema that discussed the state of political affairs in Cote d'Ivoire. Hardly two weeks ago, Guei declined to participate in a 13 November "special" session of the forum in Abidjan, that had been set aside for the country's top four political figures, citing security concerns and other unmet demands. Former prime minister Alassane Ouattara also did not attend for the same reasons.

The national reconciliation forum, which was addressed by former head of state Henri Konan Bedie and current president, Laurent Gbagbo, on 13 November, was set up to try and find lasting solutions to the country's current political crisis.

It has been the national arena where, since 9 October, politicians, religious leaders, the civil society, as well as diplomats and members of foreign communities, have voiced their analyses of the crisis and proposed ways to resolve it. It is scheduled to end on 10 December.

Abidjan residents, in a "vox pops" segment, said that Guei's decision was a positive one and hoped that his address would contribute to finding solutions to the country's socio-political problems, RTI reported.