Cote d'Ivoire: AFP says rebels' identity, cause remain shadowy Paris AFP (World Service) in English 0800 GMT 01 Oct 02 AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE Tuesday, October 1, 2002 (Transcribed Text) ABIDJAN, Oct 1 (AFP) - While everyone agrees that Ivory Coast's rebel soldiers are highly-trained, disciplined and well armed, it is not clear exactly what they are fighting for or who backs them. Ever since they rocked this west African country by staging a simultaneous uprising on September 19 in the de facto capital Abidjan, the country's second city Bouake and the northern town of Korhogo, their cause remains as blurred as the identity of the masterminds. The rebels are often bearded, interpreted by some to indicate they are Muslims from Ivory Coast's Islam-dominated north, a region they still control along with Bouake, despite being crushed in Abidjan. They are tight-lipped: just a few non-commissioned officers are authorised to speak on behalf of the "movement", which they insist has no political backing. Among themselves they often talk in code. The rebels say they launched the bloody rebellion to force President Laurent Gbagbo to rescind their demobilisation in December. The government, on the other hand, has unequivocally stated that they are putschists, armed and backed by a regional "rogue" country. Many have taken that accusation to be an oblique reference to neighbouring Burkina Faso. Abidjan also claims that there are also English-speaking mercenaries in the rebels' ranks. Speculation also abounds that the rebellion was instigated by former military ruler, General Robert Guei, who staged Ivory Coast's first coup in December 1999 but had to relinquish power to President Laurent Gbagbo after losing presidential polls the following year. Some say the rebels are military personnel recruited by Guei who went into exile after he lost power. Guei was killed on the first day of the uprising in Abidjan. Others say the rebels are led by opposition leader and former prime minister Alassane Ouattara, who was barred from the last presidential polls, won by Gbagbo, on the contentious grounds that he hailed from Burkina Faso. Ouattara's Abidjan mansion was pillaged and torched in the uprising and he and his French-born wife have taken refuge at the French ambassador's residence in Abidjan. But rebel Warrant Officer Tuo Fozie, who claims to be the rebel commander in the central city of Bouake, told journalists that neither Guei nor Ouattara had anything to do with the uprising. "Neither Guei nor Ouattara was behind us," he said. "There is no political boss behind us, so far as I know. We are soldiers, this is not a political movement. We have demands ..." The mutineers have demanded that all soldiers in exile be allowed to return, and that those in prison be freed. The mutineers are armed with 12.7-mm heavy machine-guns, 140-mm mortars, anti-aircraft guns, missiles and bazookas. They carry AK-47 assault rifles, and often a 9-mm automatic pistol as well. Those weapons, as well as impressive stocks of ammunition, came from the Ivorian army, Fozie said. "We want justice for Ivory Coast and union of all Ivorians," Fozie declared, claiming that the rebellion was staged by men like himself who were originally recruited by Guei and went abroad after the ex-military ruler lost power. But if that is true, not all Guei loyalists appear to be hand in glove with them. In a surprise move last week, Guei's former chief bodyguard, Lieutenant Laurent Boka Yapi, speaking on Ivorian radio from an undisclosed foreign location, called on the rebels to rejoin government forces. "I am your chief, I trained you, I wanted to give you a new life," he said. "Stop the fighting, join the loyalist forces and your demands will be taken into account." Some rebels do not hide their hatred for some members of Gbagbo's government. "Our enemy is not Gbagbo, our enemy is his regime," said a rebel leader in the central town of Tiebissou who gave his name as Sergeant Hercules. Another rebel in the northern town of Ferkessoudougou said some rebels were still willing to negotiate with the government but others were firm on unseating Gbagbo. (Description of Source: Paris AFP (World Service) in English -- world news service of the independent French news agency Agence France Presse)