Constitutional Council of Cote d'Ivoire validates election results: report

The constitutional Council of Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday validated the results of the first round of the presidential election which was held on Sunday, media report said.

In the first round of the presidential election, Incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, a presidential candidate from the ruling Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) took lead by garnering 38.3 percent of the vote while former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara, a presidential candidate from the opposition Rally of the Republicans (RDR) was placed at the second by getting 32.

Both of them have won the legal status to enter the presidential run-off scheduled for Nov. 28.

The presidential election is significant as it is widely expected to end the country's political crisis triggered by an attempted coup in 2002 and an ensuing war.

The country has yet to reunify after dividing with the loyalists controlling the south and the ex-rebel New Forces (FN) holding the north.

The long-awaited vote was repeatedly postponed amid tensions and poor preparatory work since 2005, when President Gbagbo's tenure expired.

As many as 14 candidates competed in the first round for the top post of the country.

Source: Xinhua