G7 holds rally in rebel-held Bouake

A fifty-strong delegation from the G7 coalition of Ivorian opposition parties arrived on Thursday in the rebel-stronghold of Bouake, northern Cote d'Ivoire, and delivered speeches to a crowd of around 2,000 people. The G7's spokesman, Alphonse Djedje-Mady, who is the Secretary-General of the opposition Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI), won applause from the crowd when he went down on his knees and begged for the forgiveness of the people of the rebel-held north. "I would like to ask forgiveness of those we have offended or upset....To Ivorians of the north, south, east, west and centre -to all of you, in the name of the Republic, in the name of those who want peace and tolerance and non-violence, in the name of Jesus heaven - on my knees I ask forgiveness," pleaded Djedje-Mady. Djedje-Mady also called for all sides to give way a little to allow a lasting peace to be secured. However, Djedje-Mady's words were not echoed by Guillaume Soro, leader of the former rebel movement, now known as the 'Forces Nouvelles', or 'New Forces'. Soro acknowledged Djedje-Mady's pleas, but made it clear that he was not prepared to give any more ground to President Laurent Gbagbo, arguing that the New Forces had already made enough concessions. "The New Forces are committed and will stay committed to peace, but we have given a lot to this process," said Soro. "Today we have nothing left to give." Soro also used the opportunity to refute claims that the New Forces wanted secession for the northern territories that they control. He told the crowd that the New Forces did not want to take just a part of Cote d'Ivoire from Gbagbo - but the whole country. "Is it acceptable that people accuse us of wanting secession?" Soro asked. "We have never given up on taking all the power in Cote d'Ivoire. We never said we would limit ourselves to Bouake -our objective is to go to Abidjan!" However, the rebel leader said he would not do this by force, but through the ballot box in an election in which everyone who wanted to would be able to stand. The G7 is made up of four opposition parties and the three rebel groups which make up the New Forces. All seven groups are represented in the government of reconciliation under the terms of the January 2003 Marcoussis peace deal brokered by France. However, all members of the G7 have withdrawn from that government following the violent repression of a planned 'demonstration for peace' by security forces in March. The G7 argues that between 300 and 500 civilians were killed on March 25 and 26 and has accused security forces and armed supporters of Gbagbo of carrying out pre-emptive strikes against its supporters. The official death toll advanced by the government is 37. The authorities have defended the role played by the police and military, but have allowed an international enquiry into the March events. The G7 has repeatedly accused Gbabgo of blocking the implementation of the Marcoussis accords, which provide for a programme of disarmament, national reunification and the holding of elections in 2005. But 15 months on from Marcoussis, the world's largest cocoa producers remains divided. The New Forces control the northern half of the country and the government the south, including the capital, Yamoussoukro and the economic and administrative centre of Abidjan. Schools in the north of Cote d'Ivoire and most hospitals and clinics - unless supported by international humanitarian organisations - have closed as the north has been cut off from national finances administered out of Abidjan. Local people voiced their concerns to the G7 delegation about the loss of services in an open session on Thursday. There has been renewed international pressure to get the peace process back on track, particularly since the violent events of March 25 and their aftermath. The first troops of a 6,200-plus UN peacekeeping forces have started arriving in Cote d'Ivoire. Gbagbo's supporters, notably the Young Patriots, have argued that the UN's first tasks should be to disarm the New Forces. For its part, the G7 has told Gbabgo that five key conditions must be met before they rejoin the government. Some of those conditions have been met. G7 representatives had reportedly gathered for a closed door meeting in Bouake on Thursday night. The purpose of the meeting was "to analyse the situation," Amadou Kone, a New Forces delegate told IRIN. In Abidjan, some observers believe the opposition has scored a point off Gbagbo by heading north ahead of the President, particularly at a time when all members of the failing government of reconciliation are competing to be seen as the group most in favour of peace. President Gbabgo has announced plans to travel north on several occasions in recent months. But he has still to visit Bouake - the last scheduled visit apparently called off over security concerns. However, the G7 delegation which arrived in Bouake on Thursday after visiting Korhogo, which is further north, was afforded protection by an escort of UN peacekeepers. "It [the escort by UN soldiers] is a strong confidence-building signal. It is very important. It builds confidence between the political parties and the UN. It builds confidence between the population and the UN," Amadou Kone of the New Forces told IRIN. Last Saturday, the UN's 'blue helmets' were present alongside Ivorian troops in providing security at a memorial service organised by the opposition to honour those who died on 25 and 26 March. But they were not deployed for the Young Patriots' rally which followed on Sunday. A contingent of 700 Moroccan soldiers was due to join the UN mission in the coming weeks, military spokesman Philippe Matthieu told IRIN.