Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore left here Monday for the city of Bouake in central Cote d'Ivoire to take part in the "flame of peace," ceremony which marks the official launch of the disarmament and reconciliation process in the country.
According to a statement issued Monday by Burkina Faso president's office, besides Cote d'Ivoire's president Laurent Gbagbo and his Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, several other African heads of states, including president Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and President John Kufuor of Ghana, are expected to take part in the ceremony.
The "flame of peace" ceremony, during which weapons will be set on fire, is supposed to mark a new phase in the reconciliation process which began by the signing on March 4, 2007 in Ouagadougou, of a political agreement between Gbagbo and Soro, secretary general of New Forces (FN) rebel group, under the auspices of president Compaore, who acts as the facilitator of dialogue between Cote d'Ivoire's warring parties.
This is Gbagbo's first visit to Bouake since the eruption of the political crisis which divided Cote d'Ivoire in two parts in September 2002.
Source: Xinhua
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