The African Union welcomed Thursday the peace agreement concluded by Ivory Coast political leaders in South Africa, and pledged it would mobilize the international community to help in implementation and reconstruction. In talks brokered in Pretoria by South African President Thabo Mbeki, the Ivorian government on Wednesday agreed with rebel and opposition leaders to formally end the conflict. The conflict in Ivory Coast, which was once considered a stable and wealthy role model in West Africa, broke out in 2002 after a failed coup attempt. Rebels have since controlled the northern half of the country. United Nations and French peacekeepers have patrolled a buffer zone between the warring parties, and the mandate for the 10,000 troops was extended for one month earlier this week. Alfa Oumar Konare, chairperson of the AU Commission, commended Mbeki on his efforts in the talks. He assured the Ivorian parties of the support of the AU and its determination to mobilize the international community "to provide support for the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement, the peace process and the reconstruction of the country in general". --More 2324 Local Time 2024 GMT
