Ivory Coast peace drive

The former rebels are uneasy with the power-sharing arrangement

French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie has called for reconciliation in Ivory Coast, where French troops are monitoring an increasingly fragile peace process.

Mrs Alliot-Marie was speaking in the country's main city, Abidjan, after talks with President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Seydou Diarra.

It is her first visit to Ivory Coast since France brokered a power-sharing deal in January, in an effort to end a civil war that has split the country into two for the past year.

However her two-day visit, which began on Sunday, comes amid renewed tensions between the government and the former rebels.

At the weekend President Gbagbo appointed two independent figures to the posts of defence and security ministers.

Both portfolios had remained vacant since the national unity government was formed in March, because of disagreements between the two sides.

National unity and reconciliation are necessary elements Michele Alliot-Marie French Defence Minister Q&A: Peace accord

But the appointment of Rene Amani as defence minister and Martin Bleou as security minister was denounced as "unilateral" by the former rebels, who refused to recognise them.

The leader of the biggest guerrilla group, Guillaume Soro, said on Saturday that there would be no disarmament unless Mr Gbagbo withdrew the nominations.

The president, for his part, accused the former rebels of "holding Ivory Coast to ransom".

Mrs Alliot-Marie on Monday said it was not for France to decide who should hold the posts, and called on both sides to work together.

"National unity and reconciliation are necessary elements" for restoring peace, she said.

Mrs Alliot-Marie insisted that Paris had no intention of adding to the 3,800 French soldiers already deployed in Ivory Coast.

'Uncontrolled groups'

France, the former colonial power, sent troops last October, after rebels seized control of the northern half of the country and large parts of the west.

The government has retained control of the south, including Abidjan.

Mrs Alliot-Marie said France was in favour of extending the demilitarised zone to include the north of the country - but only if success could be assured.

She warned that although the military situation had stabilised, "uncontrolled groups" could still spark clashes.

Last month, two French soldiers were killed in central Ivory Coast during a clash with rebels.

They were the first French troops to die while monitoring the peace agreement.