UNITED NATIONS, March 28 (UPI) -- The chief of the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast says rebels are settling in for a long standoff or secession from the West African nation.
Alan Doss, acting chief of the U.N. Operation in Ivory Coast told the Security Council rebels occupying the northern part of the nation have allocated five newly designated areas to warlords, announced training facilities and a bank -- all indicating they are preparing for a long-term crisis, if not planning immediately to secede.
He also said difficulties encountered by the African Union's mediator, South African President Thabo Mbeki, in trying to implement the peace agreements raises questions about the likelihood general and presidential elections scheduled for later this year could take place.
The anti-government Forces Nouvelles continued to link their acceptance of a demobilization and disarmament scheme to advances in the political program, he said in delivering U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's latest report, released last week.
Among Annan's recommendations, was a request to extend the mission until April of next year.
