Ivory Coast's army chief of staff has warned that his troops could launch a new offensive to prevent rebel attacks.
Col Philippe Mangou was responding to rebel comments that they were boosting their defences in fear of attacks.
A buffer zone, patrolled by UN and French peacekeepers, has split the rebel north from the government south for more than two years.
The United Nations has expressed concern about the mounting tension and has called for swift disarmament.
There are 10,000 peacekeepers in Ivory Coast - which used to be West Africa's richest country until the outbreak of the civil war in September 2002.
Joint patrols
"When we have all this information and we know that at any moment we can be attacked you will understand that we will precede this attack and we will start an offensive," Col Mangou told reporters.
"We cannot wait for people to encircle us and cut our throats."
The 18-month ceasefire was broken in November, when the Ivorian armed forces launched an attack on the rebel-held north of the country.
It was followed by days of turbulence in the government-held south.
The colonel also said that joint patrols of the Ivorian army and the UN forces would continue in the main southern city of Abidjan.
Last week, at least two people were killed in a violent clashes between Ivory Coast police and an anti-rebel militia in Abidjan.
South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki has been charged by the African Union with leading efforts to find a peaceful solution to the divided country.
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