Ivoirians say “yes” to new constitution

Results from 19 of the 58 departments in Cote d’Ivoire indicate that most electors have voted in favour of a new draft constitution, state-owned media reported on Monday. According to the Interior Ministry, about two-thirds of the electorate turned out in the 19 departments at a referendum on the draft constitution, held on 23 July and extended to 24 July because of organizational hitches. Counting continued on Monday in the other departments. All major parties had called for a “yes” vote although there was less unanimity over provisions governing eligibility for the presidency. According to the draft, presidential candidates must be of Ivoirian parentage on both sides and must never have had another nationality. Adversaries of one of the main contenders, Rassemblement des Republicains (RDR) leader Alassane Ouattara, claim that he is ineligible under both provisions. Members of Cote d’Ivoire’s government and the ruling Conseil National de Salut Public (CNSP), which took power following a military coup on 24 December 1999, have said that the provisions do not target any politician in particular.