The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Hackman Owusu Agyeman has announced that, time is running out for the rebels in the Ivory Coast lay down their arms and fully get involve in the peace talks.

Mr. Owusu Agyemang told Peace fm on Tuesday that, it is now clear that, the rebels themselves are the stumbling block to the Peace talks in Lome, Togo. He said efforts have been made towards tackling the social requirements raised by the rebels, but their demand for the resignation of the President, Laurent Gbagbo, cannot be granted.

This is because, President Gbagbo has the mandate of the people, to rule the country for a four year term of office, after which there shall be an election either to maintain him or vote him out.

According to Mr. Owusu Agyemang, the West Africa sub-regional leaders involved the Peace talks, are becoming impatient and would have no other option, than to flush them out forcibly.