Ivorian leader purges cabinet

General Guei: Many believe he wants to run for the presidency

The military ruler of Ivory Coast, General Robert Guei, has sacked from his government supporters of a leading contender in forthcoming presidential elections, Alassane Outtara.

A minister is not in the service of a political party, but is above all a minister of the republic

General Guei

A new government has been named replacing eight of Mr Ouattara's allies with military figures.

But the Secretary-General of Mr Ouattara's party, the Rally of Republicans, (RDR) Henriette Diabate, has been retained as Culture Minister in the new 24-member cabinet.

There is a new twist in the controversy over Mr Ouattara's nationality

Significantly, the cabinet now includes members of the former PDCI party of ex-President Henri Konan Bedie, who was ousted in a military coup led by General Guei last December.

Two women have also been named in the new government.

Nationality

General Guei's reshuffle follows a decision by the RDR to oppose his proposed draft constitution which is to be put to a referendum on 23 July.

The party said General Guei had failed to remove from the draft a nationality clause which could bar Mr Ouattara - a former prime minister - from standing in presidential elections.

The previous government's exclusion of Mr Ouattara from the presidential race on the grounds of his nationality fuelled last year's political crisis in Ivory Coast - a crisis which led to General Guei's coup against Mr Bedie.

Ivory Coast history

1960
Independence from France
Felix Houphouet-Boigny becomes president

1990
First multi-party elections
Houphouet-Boigny re-elected

1993
Henri Konan Bedie becomes president

1995
Violence as Bedie opponents boycott election

1999
Unrest surrounds Alassane Outtara's presidential bid

But speaking on state television, General Guei said he would not tolerate the RDR's defiant stance.

He said the reshuffle became necessary because of unspecified "acts of defiance and even insubordination".

"Acts of defiance, from whatever quarter, will not be tolerated, especially when they subjugate or refuse the will of the greater number, meaning the refusal of the elementary principle of democracy," he said.

"A minister is not in the service of a political party, but is above all a minister of the republic," General Guei added.

Guei for president?

Exiled President Henri Konan Bedie: His PDCI party is now included in the cabinet

The new constitution will bar anyone who had ever claimed another nationality from standing for president in elections set for 17 September.

That would automatically exclude Mr Ouattara, who worked for the West African Development Bank as a national of neighbouring Burkina Faso - where his father is alleged to have come from.

Earlier this week, a spokesman for Mr Ouattara's party Ahmadou Coulibaly accused General Guei of looking for a way to push out Mr Outtara and perpetuate himself in power.

Some observers say the general will put himself forward as a presidential candidate in September.