Gbagbo supporter tears up election results

Supporters of Côte d’Ivoire’s President Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday physically prevented electoral officials from announcing the results of the presidential election run-off. Meanwhile, the party of the other presidential hopeful Alassane Ouattara has accused Gbagbo of planning to steal power.

Reuters/Luc Gnago

Damana Adia Pickass, a member of the electoral commission, seized papers with the election results from the hands of commission spokesman Bamba Yacouba when he was about to read them out, and tore them up in front of journalists.

Adia Pickass and another Gbagbo supporter said that the results were not valid.

Gbagbo's rival, Alassane Ouattara’s followers alleged earlier on Tuesday that Gbagbo was attempting a "confiscation of power" by preventing the commission from announcing the results.

“Our observers saw irregularities, some obstacles on the day of the vote and serious tension,” said EU electoral monitor mission head, Cristian Preda. “Democracy needs confidence and we can see there is more tension than confidence here.”

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to both candidates to "subject themselves to the will of the Ivorian people".

Jonathan, chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), is asking Gbagbo and Ouattara to “tone down their rhetoric and maintain the peace at this very critical stage".

Results are set to be announced on Wednesday.