ABIDJAN, Oct. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Leaders of Cote d'Ivoire's government troops and rebel forces on Tuesday published a joint petition to President Laurent Gbagbo, vowing to speed up the peace process and bring the stability back to the western African country.

    Both sides will abide by a peace accord designed to demobilize as of Friday, the leaders said in the petition, which was set to Gbagbo on Monday.

    The two sides expressed the hope for a lasting peace after a two-year civil war.

    The military leaders also called on Gbagbo to try his best to speed up the peace process and improve the political environment, economic situation, expedite military reforms, strengthen securityand check the proliferation of small arms.

    Last week, Cote d'Ivoire army and rebel forces finally agreed to demobilize in the western African country, a former economic hub of the region.

    Cote d'Ivoire plunged into a civil war in September 2002 after an unsuccessful coup. The main parties of Cote d'Ivoire and the rebels reached a peace deal in France in March 2003, under which acoalition government was set up.

    However, the peace process has largely been deadlocked due to different interpretations of the deal by Gbagbo and the opposition Force Nouvelles. The country remains divided, with the government controlling the south and rebels holding the north. Enditem