Ivorian ex-rebels start disarming ahead of polls

By Ange Aboa

BOUAKE, Ivory Coast, May 2 (Reuters) - More than 1,000 former rebels in Ivory Coast joined a disarmament process on Friday aimed at reuniting a country split in two by a civil war in time for long-delayed elections due on Nov. 30.

Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa grower and one of West Africa's biggest economies, has been divided into a rebel north and government-controlled south since a failed coup in September 2002 triggered the brief war that lasted into 2003.

After years of delay, a 2007 peace pact between the government and rebels opened the way for elections.

At a barracks in Bouake, Ivory Coast's second city and the rebel headquarters, the more than 1,000 ex-fighters from the rebel New Forces stood unarmed and at attention and sang the national anthem before the orange, white and green Ivorian flag.

The men, mostly carrying their possessions in civilian rucksacks and many in civilian clothes, each got a disarmament bonus of 90,000 CFA francs ($210). A similar ceremony took place in the northern town of Seguela, officials said.

"This demobilisation operation is a strong signal to show the peace process is irreversible," said Karim Ouattara, a New Forces officer and deputy commander of the integrated command centre set up to coordinate both rebel and government forces.

Previous attempts to kick-start disarmament have foundered, but the latest peace drive has torn down barriers between the two sides, giving hope to donors who unblocked 27 million euros ($42 million) in aid last month to help fund the elections.