20110129
xinhua

ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Friday said a panel to deal with the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire will be set up in a maximum of 48 hours.

In a communiqu issued at the end of the pan-African body's Peace and Security Session held at the presidential level at the AU headquarters here in Addis Ababa, AU said it will establish a panel composed of representatives from all regions of the continent to evaluate the situation in Cote d'Ivoire and come up with a conclusion that will be binding on all parties after endorsement by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC).

"The council reaffirmed the necessity of a rapid peaceful solution which will allow for the preservation of democracy through the respect for the will of the Ivorian people as expressed on 28 November 2010 as well as peace and which will promote lasting reconciliation among all Ivorian Parties through dialogue," said the Communiqu.

"The Council decides in light of the above to put in place under the Authority of the AU a Panel on the crisis in condition which preserves democracy and peace," it said.

The composition of the panel will be announced in a maximum of 48 hours, and it will be supported by a team of experts, AU said. "The Panel is mandated to evaluate the situation and formulate on the basis of the relevant decisions of AU and ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) and overall political crisis exit plan," it says.

"The Panel will conclude its work within a period not exceeding one month; and its conclusion which will be endorsed by the council will be binding on all Ivorian parties with which this conclusion would have been negotiated," it said.