Crisis continues despite peace accord. (Cote D'Ivoire).

Parties to the conflict have agreed to a package of peace proposals to end the bloody civil war that has raged in Cote d'Ivoire for over four months. The peace accord came after nine days of talks in Paris, as violence continued in parts of the West African country. The Security Council on 29 January urged the parties to implement the new peace agreement without delay. The Council said the United Nations should support the implementation of the peace process, and said it would "consider promptly the Secretary-Generals recommendations to that end".

Ten Ivorian political groupings, including the ruling party and the rebel movements, came together to forge the agreement, which calls for a government of national unity headed by a Prime Minister designated by President Laurent Gbagbo, in consultation with other leaders. Among the tasks assigned to the government is the preparation of a timetable for credible and transparent elections, as well as rebuilding and restructuring defence and security forces. "While the agreement is carefully drafted and comprehensive, its value depends entirely on the extent to which it is faithfully implemented", said Mr. Annan. Ivorian political leaders, he noted, "need to work in a renewed spirit of good faith to secure the peace that the people of the country expect and deserve".