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Two prominent members of Cote d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, the Rassemblement des republicains (RDR), were granted a conditional release on Friday, RDR’s acting spokesman, Ali Keita,told IRIN on Friday. Aly Coulibaly and Gilbert Kafana Kone, respectively spokesman and secretary of the organisation, had been detained since December in the aftermath of a demonstration organised to protest against a Supreme Court decision banning RDR leader Alassane Ouattara from running in legislative elections.
The two remain charged with threatening public order and as accessories to the destruction of private and public property. Security forces violently suppressed the demonstration, leaving over 20 dead and scores more arrested.
The release of the two men “is a big step towards appeasement”, Keita said, adding that it could be a positive contribution to a national reconciliation campaign the government is conducting to restore stability to Cote d’Ivoire.
Ethnic and political tensions came to a head during the presidential elections in October 2000 and legislative polls in December.
Meanwhile the question mark around Ouattara’s nationality - the reason cited by the Court for barring him from participating in presidential and legislative elections - remains a critical issue in the current political debate.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions