The "direct dialogues" between representatives of Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo and those of the rebel group New Forces were held on Monday in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, with the presence of Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore.
 
The meeting, which began at around 10 AM local time (10:00 GMT), was held behind close door.

The delegation of the president was led by Desire Tagro, advisor of President Gbagbo, while that of the New Forces was led by Louis Dakoury-Tabley, one of the leaders of the rebel group.

Cote d'Ivoire's rebel leader Gillaume Soro said last month that direct talks with Gbagbo could start in early February to promote the peace process in the country.

"The start of the direct dialogues could be at the beginning of February," Soro told reporters in an interview at the New Forces rebel headquarters.

Last December, Gbagbo had called for "direct dialogues" with the rebels who are in control of the north of the country since a failed coup attempt in September 2002, so as to revive the peace process in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2007)