Draft constitution presented to parties

Cote d'Ivoire's president, General Robert Guei, on Wednesday presented a draft constitution prepared by a Consultative Constitutional and Electoral Commission (CCCE) to leaders of political parties, the official 'Fraternite Matin' daily reported on Thursday. The CCCE was appointed following the 24 December coup d'etat to draft a new constitution and electoral code to be submitted to a referendum ahead of elections promised by 31 October 2000. The draft is to be discussed at a working session on Wednesday 26 April by representatives of the parties, students' and women's groups, non-governmental organisations, and the Conseil National de Salut Public (CNSP), the daily reported. The CNSP, headed by Guei, is the military body that took over the running of the country when President Henri Konan Bedie was overthrown. The current government comprises representatives of the CNSP, political parties and civil society.