ABIDJAN, August 9 (AFP) - After keeping observers guessing for
months,it emerged Wednesday that Ivory Coast's military ruler is
bidding to run for president -- as the candidate of the party he
ousted in December's coup.
   General Robert Guei was among those who put themselves up
for  selection as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party
of Ivory Coast (PDCI) according to party secretary general, Laurent
Dona Fologo on Wednesday.
   The PDCI is set to choose its candidate for the September 17
presidential elections at its convention in the Ivorian capital
Yamoussoukro on Saturday.
   Earlier Wednesday, as traditional chiefs came to ask him to run
for the top job, the general replied that he would have to consult
the junta: in fact, he had already informed the PDCI of his desire
to stand the day before.
   But it is not certain that the party that held power from
independence in 1960 until the coup, will choose Guei. The PDCI
has a number of factions within it.
   Many members remain faithful to their ousted president, Henri
Konan Bedie, who announced his candidacy on Saturday and was
chosen by the overseas branch of the PDCI to be the presidential
candidate.
   "We are not going to marry our mother (the party) to our
father's killer," said Bedie's supporters.
   Fologo however, argued that the overseas convention backing
Bedie was invalid.
   There are 10 other candidates vying for the party candidacy.
   When he came to power on December 24, after the previous
day's  mutiny, Guei said power did not interest him.
   "I have only come to put the Ivorian house in order," he said.
   The United States has warned Guei against any presidential
ambitions.
   "We frankly believe it is not appropriate for General Guei to
run for president," said State Department spokesman Richard
Boucher.
   "Serious doubt would be cast on the fairness and legitimacy of
the process if an individual who took power by military coup and
then oversaw the elections were to turn out to be a victorious
candidate," said Boucher.
   Charles Josselin, Cooperation Minister of the former colonial
power France said recently: "Uniforms and democracy don't go well
together."
   The ruling French Socialist Party's Africa spokesman, Guy
Labertit, warned that if Guei were to be a candidate, it would be
"dangerous" for the stability of Ivory Coast and for the whole
African continent.
   Guei's supporters maintain he left the army in 1995 when he was
accused by Bedie of attempting a coup. They compare him to
General de Gaulle, who Guei is fond of quoting.
   Two of the other major parties have already appointed their
presidential candidate: Laurent Gbagbo for the Ivorian Popular Front
and Alassane Ouattara for the Rally of Republicans.
ABIDJAN, August 9 (AFP) - After keeping observers guessing for
months,it emerged Wednesday that Ivory Coast's military ruler is
bidding to run for president -- as the candidate of the party he
ousted in December's coup.
   General Robert Guei was among those who put themselves up
for  selection as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party
of Ivory Coast (PDCI) according to party secretary general, Laurent
Dona Fologo on Wednesday.
   The PDCI is set to choose its candidate for the September 17
presidential elections at its convention in the Ivorian capital
Yamoussoukro on Saturday.
   Earlier Wednesday, as traditional chiefs came to ask him to run
for the top job, the general replied that he would have to consult
the junta: in fact, he had already informed the PDCI of his desire
to stand the day before.
   But it is not certain that the party that held power from
independence in 1960 until the coup, will choose Guei. The PDCI
has a number of factions within it.
   Many members remain faithful to their ousted president, Henri
Konan Bedie, who announced his candidacy on Saturday and was
chosen by the overseas branch of the PDCI to be the presidential
candidate.
   "We are not going to marry our mother (the party) to our
father's killer," said Bedie's supporters.
   Fologo however, argued that the overseas convention backing
Bedie was invalid.
   There are 10 other candidates vying for the party candidacy.
   When he came to power on December 24, after the previous
day's  mutiny, Guei said power did not interest him.
   "I have only come to put the Ivorian house in order," he said.
   The United States has warned Guei against any presidential
ambitions.
   "We frankly believe it is not appropriate for General Guei to
run for president," said State Department spokesman Richard
Boucher.
   "Serious doubt would be cast on the fairness and legitimacy of
the process if an individual who took power by military coup and
then oversaw the elections were to turn out to be a victorious
candidate," said Boucher.
   Charles Josselin, Cooperation Minister of the former colonial
power France said recently: "Uniforms and democracy don't go well
together."
   The ruling French Socialist Party's Africa spokesman, Guy
Labertit, warned that if Guei were to be a candidate, it would be
"dangerous" for the stability of Ivory Coast and for the whole
African continent.
   Guei's supporters maintain he left the army in 1995 when he was
accused by Bedie of attempting a coup. They compare him to
General de Gaulle, who Guei is fond of quoting.
   Two of the other major parties have already appointed their
presidential candidate: Laurent Gbagbo for the Ivorian Popular Front
and Alassane Ouattara for the Rally of Republicans.

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