The United Nations chief of peacekeeping is heading to post-conflict C?te d'Ivoire for an official visit starting today, 10 days after UN forces began their deployment in the West African country.

During his 15 to 19 April trip, Jean-Marie Gu?henno is scheduled to meet separately with President Laurent Gbagbo, the Transitional Government's Prime Minister, Seydou Elimane Diarra, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security as well as the head of the National Armed Forces of C?te d'Ivoire (FANCI).

Mr. Gu?henno is also slated to make a one-day visit to neighbouring Ghana to meet President John Agyekum Kufuor, who is also the current chairman of the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS). Mr. Kufuor has been active in peace talks between the C?te d'Ivoire factions.

ECOWAS troops form the core of the UN Operation in C?te d'Ivoire (UNOCI).