Military

DATE=11/07/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268933

TITLE=IVORY COAST / U-S ELECTION (L-O)

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: In Ivory Coast, people are watching the U-S presidential race closely as the West African country prepares for its own legislative elections that will be held as part of the return to civilian rule. V-O-A's Luis Ramirez reports from Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan.

TEXT: /// OPENS WITH STREET NOISE, ESTABLISH & FADE ///

This bustling city of more than two-million people is beginning to recover from violent street clashes last month that forced out military ruler General Robert Guei.

Subsequent clashes pitted supporters of new civilian President Laurent Gbagbo against supporters of opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, who was barred from running in the presidential race.

The skirmishes took on ethnic and religious overtones, with Muslim followers of Mr. Ouattara and Christian supporters of Mr. Gbagbo attacking each other's places of worship.

As part of the process of returning Ivory Coast to civilian rule following a military coup last year, the country will hold legislative elections December 10th. Many Ivorians hope the elections will form an inclusive government that will represent people of various ethnic groups and religions.

Standing a few meters from a newsstand stacked with newspapers featuring front-page articles about the U-S presidential race, this 28-year-old student tells V-O-A he is watching the American elections closely. He says he is preparing to cast his own ballot in what he says is Ivory Coast's newborn democracy.

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

He says - there are many examples of transparency that we should adapt here in our own country. We want to have here too [as in America], freedom in all domains: freedom of the press, justice, respect of human rights - he says - in order for democracy to be complete in Ivory Coast.

It was only in 1990 - three decades after independence - that Ivory Coast established a multi-party system. In December of 1999, the country experienced its first military coup, which put General Robert Guei in power.

President Laurent Gbagbo has promised to create an inclusive government. His administration has pledged to increase representation of groups that complain they have traditionally been excluded from the political process. (SIGNED)

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