SG/SM/7583
AFR/272

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEPLORES EXCLUSION OF CANDIDATES IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE PRESIDENTIAL RACE

The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General notes with regret that, in light of the decision of the Supreme Court of Côte d’Ivoire, many candidates nominated by some major political parties have been excluded from running for president.

He deplores these restrictions on the freedom of choice of the Ivorian voters.

He recalls that the United Nations has consistently called upon the Ivorian authorities to set up a political transition conducive to a return to constitutional legality based on open, transparent and democratic presidential and legislative elections.

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United Nations