Cote d'Ivoire: Belligerents boost military capacities; peacekeepers due 15 Nov Paris Radio France Internationale in French 0730 GMT 11 Nov 02 RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONALE Monday, November 11, 2002 (Translated Text) Now to the Ivorian crisis. It is still unclear whether the Lome peace talks will resume. The rebel delegates suspended their participation on 9 November. Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema held a lengthy meeting with them yesterday, but not much is yet known about that meeting. All we know is that the rebels have not left the Togolese capital. They say they want to remain in contact. That may be the case, but on the ground, both the government and the rebels are preparing their troops and reinforcing their military positions. Olivier Roger has the details. (Begin Roger recording) The arms race is continuing in both camps with each of them buying more equipment and fixing its tools. One the loyalists' side, the regime has collected funds to purchase tanks. According to our sources, two T-55s with 100-mm guns are already in Yamoussoukro. But the most precious tools are the Mi-24 helicopters. There are reportedly three of them. These helicopters equipped with machine guns and rockets demonstrated their effectiveness during the war in Afghanistan. According to a foreign military source, the government has recruited professionals in Eastern Europe to pilot the Mi-24s. On the mutineers' side, there is no lack of arms either. It is difficult to say whether the rebels have surface-to-air missiles, which are able to neutralize helicopters. However, we know that they have 14-7 mm machine guns, and 22-mm guns, which are effective in antiaircraft fighting. The enigma is the situation of the Alpha jets, the two fighting aircraft that the mutineers say they have fixed but no one has seen them in the air. Because equipment without manpower is useless, each camp has reinforced its troops. The mutineers, who are recruiting on a regular basis, yesterday told AFP that they had brought 600 reinforcements from Korhogo to Bouake. Concerning the loyalists, there are still questions about the presence and role of South African mercenaries. (end recording) Finally, be advised that a first ECOWAS contingent is due in Cote d'Ivoire on 15 November. The team will consist of 19 military officers tasked with paving the ground for the deployment of the West African peacekeeping force. (Description of Source: Paris Radio France Internationale in French -- government-owned radio, under the management of the Ministry of Culture, aimed at an international audience)