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Ivorians await plan for new era UN grants Ivorian PM broad powers
(about 11 hours later)
The United Nations Security Council is set to vote later on whether to extend the mandate of Ivory Coast's interim government which expired on Tuesday. The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to extend for one year the mandate of Ivory Coast's interim government, which expired on Tuesday.
The delayed meeting will debate a French draft resolution increasing the prime minister's powers at the expense of President Laurent Gbagbo. The French-sponsored resolution increases Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny's role at the expense of President Laurent Gbagbo.
Both Mr Gbagbo and Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny will be given another year to prepare for elections. It gives Mr Banny's sweeping powers to try to re-unite the war-divided nation and to hold elections in 2007.
Rebels have held the north of the country since a civil war in 2002. Rebels have held the north of the country since the civil war in 2002.
They insist President Gbagbo should step down.They insist President Gbagbo should step down.
The Ivorian armed forces deployed in large numbers throughout Abidjan on Tuesday to ward off any potential trouble.The Ivorian armed forces deployed in large numbers throughout Abidjan on Tuesday to ward off any potential trouble.
Delayed vote
The UN Security Council delayed a vote on Tuesday because several members voiced their concern that an earlier draft resolution would give the unelected Mr Banny too much powers.
Critics had said the document saying that the council was considering imposing regime change on the West African nation.
But the council approved the resolution after France dropped language specifying that Mr Banny would have powers to appoint civilian and military officials and requiring him to sign all ordinances and decrees, according to the Associated Press news agency.
France is insisting that the new resolution would be more important than the Ivorian constitution.France is insisting that the new resolution would be more important than the Ivorian constitution.
But President Gbagbo has frequently used the constitution to hold onto office and, according to many observers, block the peace process.But President Gbagbo has frequently used the constitution to hold onto office and, according to many observers, block the peace process.
The French draft endorses an African Union decision stating: "No Ivorian party shall invoke any legal provision to impede the full implementation of the present resolution and of the peace process led by the prime minister."
There are more than 10,000 French and UN troops in Ivory Coast, most patrolling the ceasefire line between the northern and southern parts of the country.There are more than 10,000 French and UN troops in Ivory Coast, most patrolling the ceasefire line between the northern and southern parts of the country.
But plans announced last October to disarm militias and carry out a census of the country's population have failed to get off the ground.But plans announced last October to disarm militias and carry out a census of the country's population have failed to get off the ground.
US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton told reporters after the delay was announced on Tuesday evening: "Our hope is to reach agreement on some of the issues we have been discussing. This additional 24 hours will give us that opportunity."