I Coast: Pahad calls on UN
2005-08-28 20:46
Johannesburg - South Africa's deputy foreign minister said on Sunday it was up to the United Nations to decide whether war-wracked Ivory Coast should go ahead with October elections despite a rebel boycott of the polls.
Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo called on South African mediators to decide whether the planned October 30 vote should take place after rebels on Thursday announced a withdrawal from the presidential race.
"It is the responsibility of the UN electoral supervisor in consultation with the independent electoral commission to determine whether we are on schedule for elections," said Aziz Pahad.
"They would then make a recommendation to the mediators."
Critical
Tensions are on the rise in the world's number one cocoa producer where rebels are increasingly critical of peace efforts.
Also, former army leader General Mathias Doue, who was fired in November 2004, vowed nine days ago to oust Gbagbo.
Rebels are demanding that Gbagbo step down on October 30 and play no part in a political transition negotiated by South African President Thabo Mbeki.
On Friday, Gbagbo called on the "international community" to decide whether elections should go ahead.
"It is the UN who will decide. It is the South African mediator who will decide," Gbagbo said, referring to Mbeki who has sought to mediate the process aimed at ending three years of civil war in the west African nation.
Under a timetable approved by rebels holding the north of the country since a failed attempt to topple Gbagbo in 2002, both sides were to have disarmed by August 20.
- SAPA