Ivory Coast leaders burn weapons (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Ivory Coast's president and prime minister have set fire to stockpiled weapons to symbolise the end of the country's five-year conflict.

It was the first time that President Laurent Gbagbo had gone to the former rebel-held north since 2002, when an uprising against him split the country.

"People of Ivory Coast, the war is over," he said in Bouake.

Mr Gbagbo signed a peace deal in March with ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro, who was later named prime minister.

As part of the deal the pair agreed to hold elections, which have repeatedly been cancelled, by early 2008.
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more:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6921585.stm

Let's hope they're not celebrating prematurely. :crossfingers:

[Canuckistanian]

1. Is it really that simple?

Can two warring factions just stop fighting, agree to cooperate and then destroy the weapons that they used to kill each other?

I mean, I know the gun burning was symbolic, but... does peace really have to be any more complicated than that?

[billyoc]

2. Perhaps some people just get sick of warfare.

I wouldn't know, I'm an American. ;)

[Canuckistanian]

3. I guess that's what I was grasping for

I was just moved by such a symbolic act.

I'm no naive peacenik and I don't think this will be the end to all the Ivory Coast's troubles.

But for a people that have seen almost constant war for decades, it must mean a lot.