Call for resignation of military ruler

More than 1,500 demonstrators marched through the streets of Abidjan on Thursday to demand the resignation of the head of the military Conseil National de Salut Publique (CNSP), which has been running Cote d’Ivoire since the ouster of President Henri Konan Bedie on 24 December 1999.

The peaceful demonstration, which ended on a green opposite the Presidential Palace, was provided with a police escort. Placard-bearing protesters were preceded by a line of people who swept the street to symbolize the promise Guei made when the CNSP came to power - that he would sweep the house (i.e. the nation) clean before handing it back to an elected government. Students who were part of the demonstration told IRIN other protests would follow if the military leader refused to heed their demand.

The Forum des Jeunes - the coalition of youth groups, non-governmental organizations, trade unions and youth wings of political parties that organized the protest - also called for the creation of an independent national electoral commission (CENI - French acronym) and for free and fair elections. It said the presidential polls, to be held on 17 September, should be open to all declared candidates.