Military

DATE=10/25/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N / IVORY COAST (L Only)

NUMBER=2-268431

BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan said today (Wednesday) that the recent events in Ivory Coast are further evidence that the people of the world are starting to assert their rights. V O A Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United Nations.

TEXT: Mr. Annan says he is amazed by what he calls the "audacity" of Ivory Coast's military leader General Robert Guei. General Guei, who apparently lost Sunday's presidential elections, ordered the National Election Commission dissolved and declared himself the winner.

But thousands of supporters of opposition candidate Laurent Gbagbo took to the streets of Abidjan, Ivory Coast's largest city, to protest General Guei's action. The demonstrations swept Mr. Gbagbo to power and apparently caused General Guei to flee.

U-N Secretary-General Annan told reporters the developments remind him of the recent popular uprising against Slobodan Milosovic in Serbia.

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What happened in Ivory Coast and what happened recently in Serbia is sending out a message that the people are getting - to know their rights, and they are going to assert their rights. The days of coup d'etats, the days of manipulations of elections are over.

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Mr. Annan said if people around the world continue to insist that the results of free elections be respected, "democracy will be in good shape." (Signed)

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