Ivory Coast's rebels and government officials were due to sign a ceasefire in the capital today to end a 16-day revolt.
West African mediators, including a minister from Nigeria, flew to the rebel stronghold in the city of Bouake yesterday to meet the rebels.
"We have achieved an important first step to the process of dialogue and negotiating an end to the crisis," chief mediator Mr Mohamed ibn Chambas said after the rebels agreed to a ceasefire.
Bouake, the second city after the coastal commercial hub of Abidjan, fell to the rebels on September 19th when their uprising against President Laurent Gbagbo failed.
Hundreds have died and thousands been displaced by the rebellion, worsening tensions in a country of 16 million people that has many different ethnic groups and has seen tension between Christians and Muslims.