Ndey,
The question preoccupying the Guei camp, as people trickle into the polling
stations across the country, is whether the boycott, called by the two major
parties excluded from the presidential race, will be observed. In Yopougon,
a quartier of Abidjan and a stronghold of Popular Front of Laurent Gbagbo,
voter turn out has been reported to be relatively heavy. However, it is also
reported that the boycott is being strickly observed in the northern city of
Khorogho which is what Ouattara and the former ruling party expect from the
entire northern, central and eastern Cote d'Ivoire.  Unless there is a
significant increase in the number of voters between now and the closing of
the polls at 18:00 GMT, the proponents of election boycott would have
succeeded in convincing the majority of eligible voters to stay at home.
Importantly however, the voting continues in an atmosphere of serenity and
civility thus far and there is no reason to believe that the peaceful
atmosphere will not be maintained in the coming hours and days.
Sidi Sanneh


>From: Ndey Jobarteh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Ivory Coast : Guei says he would abide by an election defeat
>Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 17:31:50 +0100
>
>Sidi,
>
>Thank you for  forwarding information on the new developments in Ivory
>Coast. I hope that the guy will stick
>to his words and step down when defeated. On the other hand i am praying
>that he won't be another Jammeh.
>Africa don't need the likes of Jammeh  as Presidents.
>
>The Struggle Continues!!!
>Ndey Jobarteh
>
>sidi sanneh wrote:
>
> >    ABIDJAN, Oct 19 (AFP) - Ivory Coast's military ruler General Robert
>Guei
> > said in a radio address he would step aside if defeated in Sunday's
> > presidential election.
> >    "Rest assured of one thing, dear compatriots, if I am beaten in the
> > election, it is as the rightful heir to (former) president Felix
>Houphouet
> > Boigny and as a convinced and sincere democrat that I will transfer
>power,
> > in
> > accordance with the law, to the new president freely chosen by the
>Ivorian
> > people," Guei said.
> >    "All measures have been taken, and others will follow, so that the
>people
> > of Ivory Coast can freely express themselves on October 22 and choose
> > without
> > constraint and in total transparence who will lead them towards their
>new
> > destiny," he added.
> >    The general, in power since a December 24 military coup, called on
>voters
> > not to respect the boycott called by the former ruling Ivory Coast
> > Democratic
> > Party (PDCI) and the Rally of Republicans (RDR) led by former prime
>minister
> > Alassane Ouattara.
> >    Both parties had their candidates disqualified from the presidential
>race
> > by a Supreme Court ruling rendered October 6.
> >    "Do not listen to those voices who call you to boycott these
>elections,
> > for
> > they are the ones who want trouble for our country," Guei said.
> >    "Those voices are for the most part the voices of our compatriots who
>do
> > not hesitate to sell their conscience in placing themselves above the
> > overall
> > interest of Ivorians and of Ivory Coast."
> >    Guei again defended the decision "taken entirely independently of any
> > other
> > authority" by the constitutional chamber of the Supreme Court, whose
>members
> > he appointed and which is headed by his former legal adviser.
> >    The general also announced that Ivory Coast's borders and airports
>will
> > be
> > closed from 10:00 pm (2200 GMT) until 8:00 am (0800 GMT) every evening
>from
> > Friday until Monday, the measure being lifted at 8:00 am Tuesday.
> >    "This security precaution is to guarantee the peace and stability of
>our
> > country and should not be seen as an electoral strategy," Guei said.
> >    so/crl/sst
> >
> >
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