News from Africa. Now let’s hope they do it better than Kabila and Bemba in Kongo. I’ll believe it if I see it.

Ivorian chant 'war is finished' as weapons burn

BOUAKE, Ivory Coast, July 30, 2007 (AFP) - A public holiday is declared, the president returns to a rebel stronghold, a stadium chants reconciliation, weapons are burnt in a massive pyre, so peace is made in the Ivory Coast.
At least this was the apparent hope of Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo who made an emotional return Monday to what had been the main headquarters of rebels pitted against him during a bitter five-year civil war.
There were songs, there was dance. Weapons exploded causing panic then joy. Finally a symbolic white dove was released to cap a choreographed ceremony designed to show Ivorians that peace would now reign.
"The war is finished," President Gbagbo declared triumphantly on his first visit to the rebel north since a 2002 uprising against him divided the country in two. Tens of thousands of Ivorians approved and chanted back the phrase.
"We have to organise elections quickly, quickly, quickly." Gbagbo repeated the last word until the crowd picked up the vibe and shouted it back to him "Quickly. Quickly."
Gbagbo toasted Guillaume Soro, the former rebel leader who led the 2002 coup against his regime, praising him for entering the talks that yielded a new peace deal earlier this year.
"I want to burst with joy... and to celebrate peace with you," 35-year-old Soro, now the Ivorian prime minister, said in return as six African heads of state looked on.
To crown the ceremony, military chiefs from both sides stacked weapons before dozens of soldiers carried a "Flame of Peace" into the stadium and passed it on to the two Ivorian leaders.
Gbagbo set the weapons alight amid wild applause. They quickly ignited into a raging blaze, sparks flying several metres into the air, before firefighters stepped in to douse the flames.
Bodyguards rushed to protect the leaders, but the panic in the packed stadium was momentary and when calm was restored a white dove was released into the air and the national anthem played.
Young dancers draped in the orange, white and green colours that stripe the national flag then came forward to entertain the crowd.
The show had worked as far as one spectator Bjeneba Fofana was concerned.
"I was a bit sceptical... but this time I think we have it. Peace is near," she said, sporting a shirt with the portraits of both Gbagbo and Soro.
As the two leaders where whisked away no details had yet been given of the disarmament schedule, a key but sensitive step in the Ivory Coast's peace process.
There are around 42,500 rebel forces, 5,000 regular army troops and 12,000 members of hardline militia loyal to Gbagbo that must be demobilised. (AFP)