Ivory Coast's Ouattara in the lead as partial election results announced

"Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara is in the lead to win re-election, according to partial election results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission. The results from several departments and polling stations were announced on national television on Sunday. If confirmed, Ouattara, an 83-year-old who has led the country since 2011, would secure a fourth term in office. The results of 20 departments or divisions are being read out, and 11 departments remain,"

"This is the most critical stage of this election, where results from various polling booths and centres are being collated and announced, Idris said. From the initial results, it's clear the incumbent is leading by a wide margin in many of the areas so far. Sunday's announcements will determine whether there will be a run-off or a first-round win for whoever is going to take this election, our correspondent added."

"Nearly nine million Ivorians were eligible to vote in an election marked by a divided opposition further hobbled by the barring of two leading candidates. Ouattara's leading rivals former President Laurent Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam were barred from standing, Gbagbo for a criminal conviction and Thiam for acquiring French citizenship. This led to pre-election protests and calls from some quarters for a boycott of the polls."

Partial election results show the incumbent president leading strongly across many areas, with results from 20 departments read and 11 still outstanding. The vote included diaspora ballots from six countries and nearly nine million eligible voters. The electoral commission estimated turnout at about 50 percent. Key opponents Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam were barred from standing, Gbagbo for a criminal conviction and Thiam for acquiring French citizenship, triggering pre-election protests and boycott calls. Sunday's remaining tallies will determine whether the election ends in a first-round victory or proceeds to a run-off, with public calm at stake.

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