Ivory Coast recruiting Liberians

Fears of a return to war are never far away

The government of Ivory Coast is recruiting Liberians into its armed forces, says the international pressure group Human Rights Watch.

The group says it interviewed a number of Liberians, including three children, who said Ivorian army officers had offered them up to $400 to enlist.

Ivory Coast has been divided since a failed rebellion in 2002.

Embassies there are warning of possible unrest after President Gbagbo's five-year term ends on Sunday.

Presidential polls have been postponed and the opposition and rebels are refusing to recognise Mr Gbagbo as president after 30 October.

Laurent Gbagbo says rebels must disarm before any elections

The African Union and United Nations have asked President Gbagbo to stay on for 12 more months.

Denial

HRW says that in anticipation of renewed fighting with rebel forces, Ivorian army officers and Liberian former commanders have been conducting a recruitment drive since September seeking ex-combatants in Liberian towns and villages bordering Ivory Coast.

"The Ivorian government is bolstering its military manpower by recruiting children who fought in Liberia's brutal civil war," said HRW Africa director Peter Takirambudde.

"The international community must do all it can to ensure that these children are demobilised and that their recruiters are prosecuted."

The report has been denied by President Laurent Gbagbo's party.

Neither the rebels who control the north of the country, nor the pro-Gbagbo militias who roam the south, have disarmed as planned - a pre-requisite for polls.

The 10,000 French and UN troops who keep the two sides apart say they are short of resources

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged all parties to refrain from "disruptive political gatherings that may create tensions".