--- Received from WPS.RYARL 223-5923 10-28-99 335p
World: Africa
Opposition under fire in Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast authorities have broken up an opposition
rally and arrested several opposition leaders, as an
increasingly bitter dispute over the nationality of their
presidential candidate takes a decisive turn in court.
An Ivorian nationality certificate issued to Alassane Ouattara
last month has been cancelled, in a move which could prevent him
standing in presidential elections next year.
And in the capital, Abidjan, several leaders of his Rally of the
Republicans party including the party's Secretary-General,
Henriette Diabate, were arrested as riot police used tear gas,
rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse around 1,000
protestors. At least two people were injured in the disturbances.
They were demonstrating against what they charge is bias by state
television against Mr Ouattara, a former prime minister who is
considered the main challenger to President Henri Konan Bedie in
elections due next year.
The demonstration, organised by the opposition Rally of the
Republicans (RDR), had been banned by the government on Tuesday.
It began outside the national radio station, which the RDR has
accused of having a pro-government bias. Police blocked roads and
dispersed the marchers, mainly young men but also women, with.
Smaller throngs of youths, many wearing t-shirts and caps with
party slogans, regrouped and counterattacked with stones and
bottles. In the early afternoon, about 20 RDR officials,
including Mr Diabate, were bundled into several armoured police
vehicles and whisked away from the party headquarters where
sporadic clashes continued.
Eligibility
Mr Ouattara's supporters say President Henri Konan Bedie's
government is unnecessarily harassing their leader because of the
increasing threat he poses in next year's ballot.
Mr Ouattera, a former Ivorian prime minister who has held senior
positions in the International Monetary Fund, is currently outside
the country. President Bedie says Mr Ouattara's father is from
neighboring Burkina Faso and is therefore not eligible to stand.
Mr Ouattara insists that both his parents were born in Ivory Coast
and says that he has the documents to prove it.
Forgery pressure
A judge, Zorro Ballo, who issued the Ivorian nationality
certificate to Mr Ouattara says he had come under political
pressure to say it was a forgery. He said senior officials in the
Ministry of Justice accused him of being a rebel judge and of
having been promised something by the opposition leader in return
for the Ivorian nationality document. He insists that he has
acted strictly within the law and that he has now revealed the
political pressure on him because he feels his professional
integrity is under threat.
In September, police arrested over 400 RDR supporters outside
their leader's home and detained them for 48 hours. Government
officials have accused the international press of stirring up
political tensions.
---- 10-28-99 335p ---- Sent to ---------------------------
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