The Cote d'Ivoire government army on Thursday failed to reach agreement with anti-government forces over several military issues regarding the disarmament plan in the capital Abidjan.

This round of military talks, presided over by Cote d'Ivoire Defense Minister Rene Aphing Kouassi, brought together the government army chief Philippe Mangou, the anti-government forces chief of staff Soumaila Bakayoko and other senior officials.

In the talks, the anti-government forces put forward several requests, which included the formation of a joint staff department, that they retain their military ranks, and that the anti-government forces be paid and given appropriate provisions. All of these requests were turned down by the government army.

The two sides have decided to hold another round of talks in Abidjan on July 6.

In a press conference after the talks, Kouassi said a dialogue mechanism had been established between the two sides and their differences of opinion would not have an impact on the overall peace process for Cote d'Ivoire. He called on the two sides to speed up the talks and try to mend their rifts based on the principle of restoring peace to the country.

Disarmament is a key precondition of the presidential election which is due by October in Cote d'Ivoire. The country has been locked in a civil war which started after a failed coup in September 2002.

The government signed the Marcoussis agreement with anti-government troops in 2003, but both sides have repeatedly failed to lay down arms in the past. The country has since been divided into the government-ruled south and the rebel-held north.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2006)