Constitutional Commission to set election dates

The dates for presidential, legislative and municipal elections in Cote d'Ivoire will be set by a new Consultative Constitutional and Electoral Commission (CCCE) sworn in on Monday, the country's leader, Brigadier General Robert Guei, said at the inauguration. The commission's tasks include drawing up a new constitution, drafting an electoral code and proposing measures to facilitate the organisation of free and fair elections, according to Guei. These measures include a census of electors, the establishment of voters' lists and the drawing of new electoral boundaries. Guei said the Commission "shall have to indicate the exact date and sequence of the upcoming general elections". The Ivoirian head had announced last week that presidential, legislative and municipal elections would be held by 31 October. On Monday he explained that this date was just a deadline and that if the CCCE found that the polls could be held earlier, he would be willing to ratify a proposal to this effect "as long as there is no confusion".