Yes campaign wins constitutional vote with 93% in Ivory Coast

Electoral officials in Ivory Coast say the yes campaign has won Sunday's referendum on a new constitution, with 93.42 per cent of the votes. The turnout - 42.42 per cent is higher than an earlier 7 per cent estimate by opposition parties that boycotted the polls.

Backed by President Alassane Ouattara, the change scraps a requirement that both parents of presidential candidates must be native-born Ivorians. Opponents accuse Mr Ouattara of using it as a way to hand-pick his



successor. In the lead-up to the referendum, there were street protests by opposition supporters against the constitutional reforms.

The new construction removes the age limit of 75 for those seeking to be elected to the post of president. Mr Ouattara will be over the current age limit at the end of his current term. Initially, some of his critics accused him of trying to stay in power himself but the draft retains a ban on third terms so he cannot seek re-election.