Crowds welcome Ivoary Coast leader

Crowds welcome Ivory Coast leader

Ivory Coast's president has been greeted by large crowds as he makes a symbolic three-day visit to former rebel strongholds in the north.
The president's itinerary included the town of Ferkessedougou, the birthplace of his rival during four years of civil conflict, Guillaume Soro.

The two men are now reconciled and Mr Soro serves as prime minister.

In a speech there, Mr Gbagbo emphasised that, with the war over, the time for political campaigning was coming soon.

Long-delayed elections are due to be held by mid 2008, as agreed in the peace deal signed by the two leaders in March this year.

The deal put an end to the uprising by New Forces rebels which began when they seized a large swathe of northern territory in September 2002, accusing President Gbagbo of discriminating against northerners and Muslims.