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| NEWS ARTICLE |
Gbagbo says he will stay in power
Ivory Coast's President Laurent Gbagbo says he intends to stay in office until still unscheduled elections.
President Gbagbo's five-year mandate ended last October, but the division of the country between government and rebel forces made
elections impossible.
International organisations backed a one-year extension to his mandate.
Mr Gbagbo's announcement is being seen as a way of stopping speculation about what will happen when the extended mandate expires in
two months' time.
"I am reassuring Ivorians that, in conformity with the constitution, following the opinion of the constitutional council, and that of the members of
parliament of every party, the president of the republic and the national assembly will remain in office until the next presidential and legislative
elections," Mr Gbagbo said in a speech to mark independence day.
This was not the first time the president had expressed this opinion, but the timing of the speech was significant, the BBC's James Copnall in
Abidjan says.
President Gbagbo's speech makes it clear he believes the constitution insists he stay in power until elections.
Mandate in question
The opposition and the New Forces rebels, who control the north of the country, disagree, based on their reading of the constitution.
The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has already hinted that President Gbagbo's extended mandate - which last year was endorsed by the
UN, the African Union and the West African grouping Ecowas - may not be renewed this year.
Mr Gbagbo is likely to contest the UN's right to make such a decision.
The UN is to hold a summit on Ivory Coast in New York in September, in which it is likely to express its opinion on the elections, and President
Gbagbo's mandate.
Ivory Coast has been split in two since rebels seized control of the north of the country in September 2002.
Delays in the disarmament of rebels and of pro-government have hindered a peace process that was to have led to elections by October.
The peace process has been further delayed by disagreements over the issuing of Ivorian identity cards, with opposition supporters saying
they are being denied Ivorian nationality.
Ivory Coast's President Laurent Gbagbo says he intends to stay in office until still unscheduled elections.
President Gbagbo's five-year mandate ended last October, but the division of the country between government and rebel forces made
elections impossible.
International organisations backed a one-year extension to his mandate.
Mr Gbagbo's announcement is being seen as a way of stopping speculation about what will happen when the extended mandate expires in
two months' time.
"I am reassuring Ivorians that, in conformity with the constitution, following the opinion of the constitutional council, and that of the members of
parliament of every party, the president of the republic and the national assembly will remain in office until the next presidential and legislative
elections," Mr Gbagbo said in a speech to mark independence day.
This was not the first time the president had expressed this opinion, but the timing of the speech was significant, the BBC's James Copnall in
Abidjan says.
President Gbagbo's speech makes it clear he believes the constitution insists he stay in power until elections.
Mandate in question
The opposition and the New Forces rebels, who control the north of the country, disagree, based on their reading of the constitution.
The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has already hinted that President Gbagbo's extended mandate - which last year was endorsed by the
UN, the African Union and the West African grouping Ecowas - may not be renewed this year.
Mr Gbagbo is likely to contest the UN's right to make such a decision.
The UN is to hold a summit on Ivory Coast in New York in September, in which it is likely to express its opinion on the elections, and President
Gbagbo's mandate.
Ivory Coast has been split in two since rebels seized control of the north of the country in September 2002.
Delays in the disarmament of rebels and of pro-government have hindered a peace process that was to have led to elections by October.
The peace process has been further delayed by disagreements over the issuing of Ivorian identity cards, with opposition supporters saying
they are being denied Ivorian nationality.
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