ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Ivory Coast's former rebels reportedly are suspending their participation in a power-sharing government formed to end the nation's civil war.
The BBC reported Tuesday the former rebels also said they will suspend their participation in a disarmament program and will recall their leaders to their stronghold in Bouake, the nation's second largest city.
The former rebels joined the power-sharing government in April under a peace deal brokered by former colonial power France. Now calling themselves the New Forces, they accuse President Laurent Gbagbo of stalling on the peace process.
Rebel Leader Guillaume Soro told the BBC the New Forces have done their best to implement the peace accord, but "we have a president who does not believe in the accord, and who is doing all he can to find artificial obstacles."
Thousands of people died during the uprising and subsequent ethnic violence. The conflict split the country into a mostly Christian and animist government in the south and a mainly Muslim, rebel-controlled north.
