Ivory Coast moves to end division

Smiles for now but doubts remain

Rival Ivory Coast military commanders have agreed to dismantle a buffer zone separating their forces, starting on Monday, as part of a peace deal.

The "confidence zone", patrolled by 11,000 French and UN peacekeepers, was set up four years ago to keep apart rebel and government forces.

This move follows the appointment of former rebel leader Guillaume Soro as prime minister.

But a BBC correspondent says many still have doubts about the deal.

It's by Ivorians, for the Ivorians, so everybody is going toward peace by signing this document UN's Col Mustapha Dafir

The military commanders of the New Forces rebels, the loyalist armed forces and the United Nations and French peacekeeping missions signed a document confirming the removal of the buffer zone.

The practical details have not yet been worked out and the BBC's James Copnall in Ivory Coast says these may provoke some fierce discussions over the next few days.

But from Monday at 1200 GMT, the removal of the confidence zone is set to begin.

"It's a very, very important document because it's by Ivorians, for the Ivorians, so everybody is going toward peace by signing this document," says UN military spokesman Col Mustapha Dafir .

But he warned: "It's not a simple operation, it's a heavy one - it will take time."

Another note of caution was sounded by the man Mr Soro replaced as prime minister.

Charles Konan Banny told the BBC he suspected Mr Soro and President Laurent Gbagbo had hidden agendas that might compromise free and fair elections.

Presidential polls are due within 10 months but our correspondent says many Ivorians share Mr Konan Banny's scepticism about the men in charge of reuniting the country and organising the elections.