UN envoy holds talks aimed at breaking impasse in Côte d'Ivoire

In an effort to rescue Côte d'Ivoire's peace process, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative (SRSG), Albert Tévoédjrè, has held talks with Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and with the leader of the opposition Forces Nouvelles, whose representatives withdrew from the coalition government.

After a meeting today with the Monitoring Committee, Mr. Tévoédjrè would continue his efforts to revive government operations and the peace process, the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (ONUCI) said in a statement.

Last week the UN Security Council expressed deep concern at President Gbagbo's announcement that he would dismiss opposition ministers and it repeated its concerns about the continuing non-participation of opposition parties in the Government of National Reconciliation.

During the past week, Mr. Tévoédjrè met President Gbagbo twice, Prime Minister Elimane Diarra several times, as well as National Assembly President Mamadou Coulibaly, Forces Nouvelles Secretary-General Guillaume Soro and other political and labour leaders, ONUCI said.

The SRSG also discussed the stand-off with the ambassadors of France, the United States and other diplomatic envoys.