Ivory Coast rebels and government negotiators pored over a West African-mediated peace plan in Togo today in a tense atmosphere after the murder of a rebel leader's brother.
Diplomats said talks almost collapsed yesterday after the discovery in Abidjan of the bullet-riddled body of a brother of the rebels' representative in Europe, a day after he was taken away by uniformed men.
But rebels of the Patriotic Movement of Ivory Coast, who hold the northern half of the country, were persuaded not to pull out before signing a comprehensive peace plan that is in the works.
Rebels and the government side had been given copies of the peace plan for evaluation, mediators from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said.
"The two sides are going to look at the proposal that we put before them to make their amendments and suggestions and we hope we can get them to sign very soon," said an ECOWAS spokeswoman.