South African President Thabo Mbeki has opened new round of peace talks with Cote d'Ivoire leaders in Pretoria, urging them to make decisions on disarmament in the west African state.

Cote d'Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo and four other top leaders were invited by the African Union's mediator to peace talks at a presidential guesthouse in Pretoria.

However, rebel forces made clear that they would not abide by the June 27 deadline to disarm set out in the Pretoria accord, saying pro-government militias must also turn in their guns.

Opposition leaders Henri Konan Bedie and Alassane Ouattara, who has been living in exile in France, and Prime Minister Seydou Diarra were also taking part in the meeting that South African officials have said could extend beyond a day.

Ahead of the talks, South African officials sounded a note of concern over recent outbreaks of violence in the west of the country where about 100 people have been killed in a month and the failure of the sides to begin disarming.

(CRI.com June 29, 2005)