SA: I Coast govt should remain
2005-09-15 13:07
Pretoria - The current government of the Ivory Coast should remain in place until new elections are held, even if this did not happen on October 31 as planned, mediator South Africa said on Thursday.
It was "possible" to postpone the poll, said Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota in Pretoria.
"But frankly, there is no reason now why there can't be attainment of elections before the end of the year."
The Ivory Coast's current constitution, on which all peace agreements were based, did not provide for the creation of an interim transitional government, Lekota said.
"From our reading, the government in place will stay in place.
"You can only introduce chaos and a huge disruption of society if you remove the present arrangement."
Former Ivory Coast rebel leader Guillaume Soro last week said president Laurent Gbagbo must stand down at the end of next month and a transitional government must be set up until elections can be held.
- SAPA