Military

DATE=10/22/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IVORY COAST ELECTIONS (S-UPDATE)

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

(Eds note: First results expected at 2200 UTC)

INTRO: Voter turnout was very light in Ivory Coast Sunday, in presidential elections that are meant to return the West African country to civilian rule. V-O-A's Luis Ramirez reports from Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan.

TEXT: Voter turnout was moderate in Abidjan with polling stations reporting that, at most, 40 percent of eligible voters turned out to cast ballots. Polls were nearly deserted in parts of northern Ivory Coast. The region is home to many of military ruler General Robert Guei's opponents.

Opposition parties had called for a boycott of the elections, after General Guei's government barred most of his opponents from running against him.

The action also drew the wrath of members of the international community, with most international observers refusing to monitor the elections. The United States protested by suspending aid that was meant to help the country finance the elections.

At the polls Sunday, this 25-year-old university student said he voted because he believes that whatever the outcome, Ivory Coast must no longer be under a military government.

///VOTER ACT IN FRENCH, ESTABLISH & FADE///

He says, "I have a small hope, a very small hope that in any case, everything will turn out well. Our country must move beyond all this." He says, "it has been [about] one year since anything has been normal here."

The only major candidate allowed to run against General Guei, socialist Laurent Gbagbo, had threatened to launch protests in the streets if there was any evidence of fraud.

The government had warned opponents who were shut out of the race, specifically the supporters of excluded candidate Alassane Ouattara, not to disrupt the elections.

Despite fears of violence, the voting went without incident.

There was a heightened police and military presence in Abidjan. General Guei also ordered the nighttime closure of the country's borders and banned all nighttime flights in and out of Abidjan's international airport in the days before and after the election. (SIGNED)

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