Fury at Ivory Coast march ban

Previous marches have turned violent

Ivory Coast rebels and opposition parties have reacted angrily to a government ban on street demonstrations.

Some political parties said the ban was meant to prevent a march they had planned this weekend to call on President Laurent Gbagbo to respect the terms of a shaky peace deal.

The measure follows last week's violent demonstrations in the main city, Abidjan, by pro-government groups.

The peace process has stalled in the country, with ministers from rebel groups withdrawing themselves from a government of unity.

Meanwhile, the leader of the ruling party has accused former colonial power France of "reorganising" and "feeding" the rebels.

We'll abide by the decision of the government... even if it's not democratic Charles Ble Goude Young Patriots

France has some 3,800 troops monitoring the ceasefire line between the government-held south and the rebel-controlled north and has been closely involved in negotiations between the two sides.

"The French tango between the rebellion and legality must end. They must decide which side they are on," said Pascal Affi N'Guessan, from President Laurent Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front (FPI).

'Barbaric'

Announcing the ban, Security Minister Martin Bleou condemned the violent demonstrations held last weekend by militant Gbagbo supporters, who call themselves the Young Patriots.

He said the demonstrations had been barbaric and he called on the youths to disband the unarmed militia groups they had been training for months now.

The Young Patriots' leader Charles Ble Goude told the AP news agency that he had called off a march he had planned this weekend along the road between government-held Abidjan and the rebel headquarters in Bouake.

"We'll abide by the decision of the government... even if it's not democratic," he said.

In two days of demonstrations the Young Patriots attacked the offices of power and water companies, saying that those in the government-held south were being charged too much because the companies had been supplying the rebel-held north even though bills cannot be sent out there.

They have also attacked vendors selling newspapers seen as pro-opposition and the BBC's Kate Davenport in Abidjan says there is increasing concern these groups are getting out of hand.

In February, after peace talks sponsored by the French Government, the Young Patriots brought Ivory Coast's main city to a standstill, attacking French businesses and interests.

The minister for security is not a member of the ruling government party.

He was chosen in a process which was meant to find a neutral figure.

BBC West Africa correspondent in Abidjan Paul Welsh says the leaders of the Young Patriots are close to the president and they have been his voice when he has felt unable to speak out.