Rebel and government soldiers in Ivory Coast pulled back yesterday from front line positions held since a 2002-2003 civil war, in the first stage of a disarmament process to reunite the country.

In the central town of Tiebissou, where they had fought five years ago, the former enemies in the West African state held a military parade together presided over by their political leaders. They then withdrew to barracks in main cities.

"There is no longer a front line in Ivory Coast," President Laurent Gbagbo said at the ceremony.

He attended the parade with New Forces rebel leader Guillaume Soro, whom he named as prime minister in a consensus government formed after the signing in March of a breakthrough peace deal.

The government is hoping to hold long-postponed elections by the middle of next year, but delays in starting up a full-scale disarmament process and a scheme to identify and register voters has raised fears that the polls target will slip.

A wreath was laid in Tiebissou to remember those who died in the civil war. The rebels still control the north of the country but the government in the south is seeking to gradually restore national state authority through reunification.

Government troops based in Tiebissou were driven off after the ceremony to barracks in Yamoussoukro, the political capital of the world's top cocoa producer.

A similar withdrawal ceremony was held further north in the rebel-controlled town of Djebonoua, from where buses and jeeps carrying cheerful rebel soldiers took them to barracks in the rebel stronghold of Bouake.

Senior officials from the country's United Nations and French peacekeeping forces also attended the ceremonies.

Under the three-month disarmament programme kickstarted yesterday, around 5,000 government troops and 33,000 rebel combatants are due to pull back to barracks and concentration areas before handing over their guns.

Some of the government and rebel soldiers will then be integrated into a new national armed forces. Those who do not meet entry criteria will be demobilised.

"Disarmament ...is no longer to be feared because we're saying to the soldiers 'give up your guns and we'll find you work'. Before, it was 'give us your guns and fend for yourselves'," Prime Minister Soro said.