Morocco hosts thursday African mini-summit on Cote D'ivoire

Morocco will host next Thursday an African mini-summit in order "to reach a peaceful solution" to the crisis in Cote D'Ivoire, announced an official statement by the office of Gabon's president, Haj Omar Bongo, who is currently on a private visit to Morocco.

The summit will bring together, besides King Mohammed VI and president Bongo, President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote D'Ivoire and the presidents of Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali.

"In view of the situation prevailing in Cote D'Ivoire, president of the republic of Gabon, His Excellency Haj Omar Bongo, has invited, in agreement with His Majesty King Mohammed VI, president Laurent Gbagbo to a meeting in Marrakesh on September 26, 2002, to find a peaceful solution to the crisis," the official communiqu? says.

The Gabonese president has been in touch with the heads of state of Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, Congo and Mali to invite them to this important meeting, says the communique which adds that France and acting president of the African Union Commission will also be taking part in these peace talks.

The former French colony's plummet into chaos began before dawn last Thursday. Insurgents launched attacks on military installations, government sites, and Cabinet ministers' houses in five cities and towns.

Loyalist forces quelled the uprising in Abidjan after 12 hours of fighting Thursday that left scores dead on the government side, including a Cabinet minister, senior military officers and dozens of paramilitary police.

The deposed junta chief, Gen. Robert Guei, accused in the coup attempt, was also killed.