UN rejects Ivory Coast decision to award run-off victory to Gbagbo

Fri, 03 Dec 2010

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday stood by the decision of his Ivory Coast special representative who certified that opposition leader Alassane Ouattara has won the run- off presidential election.

In Abidjan, the country's constitutional council decided to overturn the electoral commission's conclusion that gave the victory to Alassane and instead declared incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo winner with 51.5 per cent of votes.

The electoral commission said Thursday that Ouattara received more than 54 per cent of votes, which was certified by Ban's envoy YJ Choi in Ivory Coast.

Ban said he accepted Choi's "analysis and evaluation, taking into account all aspects of the outcome of these elections is in accordance with the announcement made by the president of the Independent Electoral Commission on December 2."

Ban congratulated Ouattara and urged "the president-elect to work towards lasting peace, stability and reconciliation in Cote d'Ivoire."

Ban called on Gbagbo "to do his part for the good of the country and to cooperate in a smooth political transition in the country."

Ban warned "those who may incite or perpetrate violence that they will be held accountable."

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/356487,award-run-off-victory-gbagbo.html.