Ivory Coast leaders burn weapons

From BBC:

Ivory Coast's president and prime minister have set fire to stockpiled weapons to symbolise the end of the country's five-year conflict.

It was the first time that President Laurent Gbagbo had gone to the former rebel-held north since 2002, when an uprising against him split the country.

"People of Ivory Coast, the war is over," he said in Bouake.

Mr Gbagbo signed a peace deal in March with ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro, who was later named prime minister.

As part of the deal the pair agreed to hold elections, which have repeatedly been cancelled, by early 2008.

"As of today, we are preparing for elections. We must move fast, fast, fast to elections," Mr Gbagbo told the crowd in Bouake, the stronghold of Mr Soro's New forces movement.