I.Coast activists protest against presidential candidates' exclusion

Thousands of opposition activists demonstrated in Ivory Coast's economic capital on Saturday to demand that candidates excluded from the October presidential election be reinstated. Four prominent opposition figures in Ivory Coast have been excluded from the final electoral list, leaving them ineligible to contest presidential elections later this year. They include Tidjane Thiam, leader of the

Thousands of opposition activists demonstrated in Ivory Coast's economic capital on Saturday to demand that candidates excluded from the October presidential election be reinstated.

Four prominent opposition figures in Ivory Coast have been excluded from the final electoral list, leaving them ineligible to contest presidential elections later this year.

They include Tidjane Thiam, leader of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), the country's main opposition party and driving force behind Saturday's protest.

Thiam was struck from the voter roll in April after a court ruling cast doubt on his Ivorian nationality at the time of registration.

PDCI activists, dressed in the party's green and white, braved the rain to march to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI).

Protesters shouted: "Titi for president" -- using Thiam's nickname -- "CEI corrupt" or "Corrupt courts" as they walked toward the commission.

"Things need to change," said 64-year-old Agnero Gnagne, who alleged Ivory Coast was being governed in an "autocratic manner".

Another party backer, Stephane Brou Kouakou, called Thiam's exclusion from the electoral lists a "political decision".

No clashes broke out and police stopped demonstrators about 100 meters (109 yards) away from the electoral commission.

Only a few senior party figures managed to enter the institution's headquarters and delivered a document.

Thiam has been away from Ivory Coast for three months and did not attend the protest but published a video statement on social media.

"This is not just about me, this is a movement for democracy to prevail in our country. Let's stay mobilised," he said.

"I will soon be with you in Abidjan and we can continue this fight."

Ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, his former right-hand man Charles Ble Goude and exiled former prime minister Guillaume Soro have been barred for years over past convictions and were not reinstated.

"We consider these exclusions... deceptive manoeuvres to remove important political opponents from our country," said Sylvestre Emmou, the PDCI's executive secretary.

President Alassane Ouattara, 83, who has been in power since 2011, is included on the electoral list but has yet to announce if he will seek a fourth term