I Coast 'needs powersharing deal'
2006-10-12 10:20
Abidjan - Ivory Coast's leading opposition politician Alassane Ouattara has recommended the introduction of a transitional collegiate presidency, to which he will be party, when President Laurent Gbagbo's term runs out at the end of the month.
The former prime minister also called for the suspension of the constitution to allow the implementation of the United Nations resolutions in a bid to advance the stalled peace process in the west African country divided into two after a brief war four years ago.
Faced with the probability of the renewal of Gbagbo's term for another year, Ouattara proposed the installation of a "presidential council" collegiate.
The council would group Ivory Coast's main political leaders Gbagbo, Ouattara, ex-president Henri Konan Bedie and Guillaume Soro, leader of the rebel New Forces (FN), which had controlled the north of the country since a 2002 foiled coup bid to oust Gbabgo.
Kabila 'has four vice-presidents'
Ouattara's proposal was similar to that floated by Gabon's President Omar Bongo several weeks ago.
The proposal suggested the appointment of Ouattara, Bedie and Soro as vice-presidents to Gbagbo, copying the example set in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where President Joseph Kabila had four vice-presidents drawn from his political rivals.
The African Union's Peace and Security Council was to discuss the Ivory Coast situation on October 17, examining a recommendation from the Economic Community of West African States, which on Friday called for Gbagbo's tenure to be extended again by one year amid the continuing political crisis.
Gbagbo was elected in 2000 for a five-year mandate. Elections were set for last October, but the UN extended Gbagbo's tenure for a year while empowering the Ivorian prime minister to oversee a transitional period until presidential and general elections.
But a year later, with Gbagbo still in place, the country was as divided as ever and the rebels - along with pro-government militias - had yet to disarm in line with the UN resolution.