Abidjan (Fides Service) - "We have reached a most sensitive moment" a local force told Fides Service "peace talks between the government and the rebels have met with serious obstacles. The proposals made by the rebels are very vague, such as the need for a "new public order" , obviously they are only playing for time and creating confusion. The government previously proposed a referendum to amend the Constitution. The point in discussion is article 35 which says that Ivorian citizenship is granted on the condition that both parents were native Ivorians and that the person in question has no other citizenship. The referendum proposed by the President asks only the question: "do you want to amend the Constitution?" without explaining the points of amendment. The rebels say this is not enough and they also fear that their supporters may be excluded from the vote. The crisis in the peace talks favours those who want war on both sides, government and rebels. The ordinary people are losing hope, it is like standing on the edge of a volcano about to explode. The only positive note is that telephone contact has been resumed with dioceses in the northern part of the country under rebel control. Moreover Caritas convoys supply the people in that area with regular food and other aid." (Fides Service 21/11/2002)