Kufuor praises Cote d'Ivoire election

Abidjan, Nov 2, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has described the conduct of Sunday's Cote d'Ivoire election as smooth and orderly.

The former President, who is in the Ivorian capital as co-chair of the Carter Foundation to observe the election, said the election had been conducted in a peaceful manner and expressed the hope that collation of the results would be done in a transparent manner to meet the expectations of all.

A statement from his Spokesperson, Mr Frank Agyekum, said Former President Kufuor and his team toured some polling stations before the start of the election and observed the counting of ballots after voting. Apart from a few stations where voters were restive because polls opened late, the general conduct of the elections was without much incident.

About six million eligible voters were expected to vote in Cote d'Ivoire's first democratic elections in about 10 years. The election, which had been postponed six times, is seen as an important step towards patching up the country that has been split into deep ethnic divisions since civil war in 2002. Final results are not expected till Tuesday.

Fourteen candidates are contested the election with the front runners being President Laurent Gbagbo, and opposition leaders Mr Alassane Ouattara and former President Henri Konan Bedie. At separate meetings with Prime Minister Guilleaume Soro, Mr Ouattara and Mr Bedie before the election, former President Kufuor was assured of their readiness to accept the results once they were conducted in a free and fair manner.

Former President Kufuor said Cote d'Ivoire played an important role in Africa adding that it needed peace and stability to assume its proper place in the comity of nations.

At a another meeting with Mr. Y.J. Choi, Special Representative of the United Nations General Secretary, the two reviewed the situation in the country and stressed the need for cooperation and fair play in the election to enable the country move away from the cycle of instability and make for progress.

Former President Kufuor is also expected to meet President Gbagbo.