Military

DATE=11/06/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IVORY COAST / POL (L-O)

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Ivory Coast's new civilian government has re-drawn the boundaries of electoral districts to try to dispel fears that the powerful Socialist Party may try to manipulate upcoming parliamentary elections. V-O-A's Luis Ramirez reports from Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan.

TEXT: The re-drawing of electoral district lines is meant to increase representation of groups whose leaders have complained they have been shut out of the political process in the West African country.

Most notable among those groups are the Dioula-speaking Muslims of northern Ivory Coast. Many Dioulas are supporters of opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, who was excluded from the October 22nd presidential elections that eventually landed socialist Laurent Gbagbo and his Ivorian Popular Front party in power.

Following the elections, Ouattara supporters took to the streets in bloody confrontations that pitted them against Christian southerners, who support Laurent Gbagbo. ///OPT/// The clashes followed earlier demonstrations by Gbagbo supporters who forced out military ruler General Robert Guei. The general had tried to declare himself the winner of the elections despite a victory by Mr. Gbagbo. ///END OPT///

Interior Minister Emile Boga Doudou says the size of the parliament overall will be increased from 175 seats to 225 seats.

///FRENCH ACT, ESTABLISH & FADE //

The minister appeared on state television reading a long list of communities across Ivory Coast that will have increased representation.

Opposition party officials say the re-drawing of district lines will in some cases mean more seats for areas that are largely Dioula. They include Abidjan's Abobo district, which was the scene of some of the bloodiest confrontations last month. Under the re-districting, the number of representative seats for Abobo will go from the previous two to five. (SIGNED)

NEB/LR/GE/KBK