Guei free to go home

President Gbagbo met General Guei in the capital

Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has told ousted military leader, Robert Guei, that he should return to his home village and rejoin his family.

Mr Gbagbo announced he would take no action, after General Guei gave his tacit recognition to the new government at a surprise meeting between the two men in the capital, Yamoussoukro, on Monday.

Speaking after emerging from a month in hiding, General Guei said he would advise all soldiers to return to their barracks and place themselves at the service of the state.

I am not a policeman, nor a judge. I am happy with his declaration

President Gbagbo

He also said he recognised Mr Gbagbo as president and was going to return to his home village in the west of the country, Kabacouma.

Healing

After the meeting Mr Gbagbo reiterated his belief in healing the country's divisions.

"What is important is that the country starts a process of reconciliation," he said.

He said he could not make the ultimate decision on what would happen to General Guei as he was neither a judge nor a police officer but added: "I hope that he returns home, that he regains his family."

Some members of the general's presidential guard have not returned to barracks since the violence with which his regime tried to quash protest.

General Guei took power after a coup last December.

General Guei fled after violent protests last month

He claimed victory in the elections last month, but was forced to flee when Mr Gbagbo's supporters took to the streets in protest.

During three days of violence tens of thousands of unarmed pro-democracy supporters were fired upon by soldiers loyal to the military regime as it tried, unsuccessfully to hang on to power.

After General Guei had fled, the unrest then degenerated into battles between Mr Gbagbo's supporters and followers of Mr Ouattara.

According to official figures, 171 people were killed in the violence.

French relations

French Cooperation Minister Charles Josselin meets Mr Gbagbo in Ivory Coast later on Tuesday.

The meeting marks the resumption of relations with the former French colony, which ceased during General Guei's rule .

Mr Josselin will also hold talks with the opposition politicians, Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Dona Fologo, whose parties were excluded from the recent elections by the ousted military leader.