Abidjan - Ivory Coast's supreme court barred the former prime minister, Mr Alassane Ouattara, yesterday from contesting its October 22nd presidential election to return the country to civilian rule.
The court president, Mr Tia Kone, reading his ruling on state radio and television, said that Mr Ouattara did not fulfil the nationality conditions required of candidates under a new constitution approved overwhelmingly in a July referendum.
The court earlier approved the candidacy of the military ruler, Gen Robert Guei.