Ivory Coast plans regional summit on Thursday

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (Reuters) -- Military ruler Gen. Robert Guei will host a meeting of regional heads of state on Thursday to discuss Ivory Coast's political situation during a planned return to civilian rule, officials said.

Guei, who came to power in a military coup in December 1999, was still keeping everyone guessing on Wednesday on his plans to stand in the presidential election, which he has promised to hold on September 17.

It will be the first in a series of polls that will return the country to civilian rule before the end of the year.

Guei's office said several heads of state from the region, including Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, Mali's Alpha Oumar Konare and Benin's Mathieu Kerekou would attend the summit in the capital Yamoussoukro.

Eyadema chairs the Organization of African Unity, while Konare chairs the Economic Community of West African States.

Leaders of the Ivory Coast's main political parties are also set to attend.

No summit agenda was available on Wednesday, but West African neighbors are known to be worried about growing instability in Ivory Coast, sub-Saharan Africa's third biggest economy, especially after a July army pay mutiny.

Political parties have suggested September's election may have to be postponed to allow more time for preparations, including the registration of new voters after the new constitution lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

On Wednesday, traditional chiefs and kings from around the country formally asked Guei to stand for president at a meeting in Abidjan, but he again passed over the opportunity to make his intentions known.

They handed over 20 million CFA francs ($27,400) towards a campaign.

With junta members seated to his right and civilian ministers to his left, Guei, wearing a business suit, thanked them for their vote of confidence but gave no concrete response.

"Stay tuned and we will do what we have to do when the time is ripe. We will see each other soon, to give you the response," he said.

Guei, like other candidates, has until August 17 to announce his candidature.

Ousted President Henri Konan Bedie has announced his intention to return from exile in Paris to contest the election, but his Democratic Party (PDCI) is split. It is set to name its candidate at a meeting in Yamoussoukro on Saturday.

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