Côte d'Ivoire: MPCI rebels express impatience over pace of peace process

Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire (PANA) - Rebels of the Patriotic Movement of Côte d'Ivoire (MPCI) with headquarters in the central city of Bouaké said they were impatient over the slow progress in implementing the Marcoussis accords and the Kléber arrangements that allotted them the defence and interior ministries.
Several elements in arms, who asked for anonymity, told PANA that they are likely to attack their different leaders "if things keep going from negotiations to negotiations, without any concrete outcome while the populations languish in suffering."

"We did not come to stay in Bouaké. (President) Laurent Gbagbo's headquarters is in Abidjan, and if things keeping dragging, we are going to settle our scores with our leaders. If they want to let themselves be bribed by Gbagbo, let them tell us so," one rebel fumed Tuesday.

Tension was rather high Tuesday in Bouaké after rebel leaders threatened to march on Abidjan on Sunday if the Marcoussis accords remained unimplemented.

"You have noted that thefts and armed robbery were on the rise. This is indeed the fault of our leaders. The youths are getting idle and their only occupation is to use their arms," another angry rebel said.