ICoast-France
   Attack on Ivory Coast junta leader "a mascarade:" opposition

   PARIS, Sept 19 (AFP) - An attack on the residence of Ivory Coast junta
leader General Robert Guei was a "mascarade" staged by the authorities
seeking
a pretext to cancel next month's presidential elections, a leading
opposition
figure said in Paris Tuesday.
   The pre-dawn attack Monday in which two guards were killed was "a
mascarade
and a manipulation by General Guei with a view to not holding the
presidential
elections" set for October 22, Seraphin Bonni, leader of the French branch
of
the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, told AFP.
   "We don't believe it was an attack, (we think) it was a manoeuvre to
eliminate all his opponents and maybe arrest Alassane Ouattara," said
Bonni,
whose party has backed the candidacy of former president Henri Konan Bedie,
ousted by Guei in a military coup last December.
   Ouattara, a popular former prime minister, is also standing for the
presidency, and some of those arrested Monday are supporters of staff
sergeant
Ibrahim Coulibaly who is considered close to Ouattara.
   Guei is himself standing as a presidential candidate, despite saying
after
the coup that he was not interested in power.
   Bedie is currently living in France.
   Late Monday, Communications Minister Commander Henri Sama said the
situation in the country was "totally under control" and that arrests had
been
made in connection with the "assassination attempt" earlier in the day.
   He did not say what evidence the authorities held regarding the attack,
seen as the latest incident in nine months of mounting tension in what used
to
be one of Africa's most stable countries.
   Forces loyal to Guei said the attack was carried out by a group of armed
men, some wearing uniform and some in civilian clothing.
   The poll was initially set for September 17 but has been postponed to
next
month.
   jpc/bb/kc

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