Curfew lifted in Ivory Coast

The hope is for some kind of normality after a costly conflict

The Ivory Coast authorities have lifted a night-time curfew first imposed eight months ago when fighting broke out between the government and rebel soldiers.

The decision comes a week after a ceasefire came into effect in a bid to end the bloody civil war.

Ivory Coast, the world's leading cocoa producer, was thrown into chaos by a failed coup last September which grew into a full-scale rebellion, with rebels seizing control of the north of the country.

Although the country is still divided with rebels holding the second biggest city, Bouake, and much of the north, a government of national unity was formed in March.

Reacting to the end of the curfew, one Western diplomat told Reuters: "It's another positive sign."

Obstacles

State radio said President Laurent Gbagbo signed a decree on Saturday morning lifting the curfew first introduced on 19 September, the day mutinous troops tried to capture the main city of Abidjan and oust him.

Since 21 March, the night-time restrictions had run from 2400 GMT (midnight local) and ended at 0600 GMT, but when the fighting was at its height the curfew had begun in the early evening.

Thousands of people were killed during the conflict and more than one million driven from their homes.

Despite the return to peace, correspondents say obstacles remain.

Sporadic skirmishes continued with two rebel groups after the latest ceasefire in the country's lawless western region near Liberia.

Rebels, the Ivory Coast army and 900 French troops have also been involved in a joint operation to clear the region of Liberian fighters who are accused of looting and generally destabilising the situation.