The Ivory Coast's armed forces and three rebel groups in this troubled west African country have agreed to a weapon-free zone, where both sides could move freely without arms. Both the army and the rebels also agreed that French and West African peacekeepers should be free to move throughout the country. The West African peacekeeping force's spokesman said that the two sides had rejected the idea of a buffer zone and opted instead for a "zone of confidence." The actual boundaries of the zone will be figured out during an upcoming meeting on May 18 in Bouake, the headquarters of Ivory Coast's main rebel movement. - Adam Geibel