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Cote d'Ivoire's ruling party warns opposition against protest violence

Xinhua, September 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cote d'Ivoire's ruling party, Rally for Republicans (RDR), has warned the opposition that they will be held responsible for any violence during their planned protests across the country.

An opposition coalition calling itself the National Coalition for Change (CNC), has urged its supporters to take to the streets on Thursday to push for talks with the government on the presidential poll due on Oct. 25.

The RDR's spokesman Joel N'guessan said in a statement on Tuesday that "the opposition's single strategy is to cause mayhem in order to prevent the holding of the forthcoming elections."

The CNC is demanding "the setting up of a balanced and truly independent electoral commission, a consensual electoral list, freedom of expression and access to public media by all political actors."

It has also questioned the eligibility of incumbent President Alassane Ouattara to contest the presidency, citing "doubts over his nationality."

Before 2002, Cote d'Ivoire's constitution stipulated the president should be born to Ivorian parents, while Ouattara's mother is from neigbouring Burkina Faso.

Due to that, Ouattara was barred from running for president in 2000, causing a rebellion that divided the country into two parts between 2002 and 2010.

Outtara was elected president in 2010 following the removal of the constitutional stipulation that restricted him.

CNC leaders Charles Konan Banny, Mamadou Koulibaly and Kouadio Konan Bertin are candidates to challenge Ouattara in the coming elections.

During a cabinet meeting last week, Ouattara said he was "open to dialogue" but reiterated that "nothing will be done under threats and that disruption of public order will not be tolerated."

A meeting between the government and the opposition is scheduled for Wednesday, one day before the release of the final list of presidential candidates.

The October elections are seen as crucial for peace and reconciliation in Cote d'Ivoire where post-election violence in 2010 left at least 3,000 people dead. Enditem