Ivory Coast vote postponed

General Guei: Military ruler eyeing the presidency

The military government in Ivory Coast has announced that it is to postpone presidential elections due to be held next month by five weeks.

The elections are now scheduled to take place on 22 October after originally being set for 17 September.

Ivory Coast - Key dates

1960 - Independence from France

Oct 95 - Presidential elections

24 Dec 99 - General Guei ousts civilian President Henri Konan Bedie in coup

28 Dec 99 - Guei says he will restore constitutional rule

4 July 00 - Hundreds of soldiers mutiny over pay

23-24 July 00 - New constitution approved by referendum

17 Sep 00 - Presidential election to be held

The electoral commission recommended the delay because it said vital preparations for the poll were behind schedule. The military government has promised they will be followed by parliamentary elections as part of the full restoration of civilian rule.

The commission president more time was needed to register voters, prepare election guidelines and order and distribute balloting materials.

Candidates

Nineteen candidates are due to compete in the presidential contest, including the military leader, General Robert Guei, who came to power in a coup last December.

Ouattara: Eligibility will be determined on 2 September

The election, when it happens, will fulfill General Guei's promise to return Ivory Coast to democratic rule.

The general recently put himself forward as an independent candidate for the presidency, despite having said earlier that he had no interest in staying in power.

Other candidates include opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, who the previous government said was ineligible to stand for election on the grounds that his parents were not born in Ivory Coast - a charge which Mr Ouattara denies.

He is waiting for the outcome of a 2 September court ruling which will determine his eligibility.

The Ivory Coast Democratic Party, the former ruling party which was ousted in the coup, has put forward former Interior Minister Emile Bombet as its candidate.