Section A·Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, December 6, 2000
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard related appeals in separate cases — one initiated by the Bush campaign and another from three pro-Bush voters in Brevard County, Fla.
Both argue that hand recounts in selected counties made those votes more important than ballots cast elsewhere in Florida. They also argue that unclear and changing standards on how to
"This case was brought to restore consistency and equality to voting rights," said Bush attorney Theodore Olson. "Under our Constitution, every person's vote must be weighed equally."
The Associated Press
Bush: his lawyers urged judges to throw out recount
ATLANTA — Lawyers for George W. Bush asked a federal appeals court yesterday to throw out manual recounts of ballots in three Florida counties because they were "utterly standardless."
Bush wants recounts tossed
The political divisions on the 12-judge court were clear. The seven Republican appointees peppered Democrats with pointed questions, and the judges appointed by President Bill Clinton aggressively questioned Bush's lawyer.
state by 537 votes.
"Why isn't this case moot? Why isn't this appeal moot?" Judge Charles Wilson, appointed by Clinton, asked Olson.
Nation/World
Judge Ed Carnes — who was appointed by Bush's father, former President George Bush — asked why it was constitutional to do hand recounts only in Florida's three largest counties, all of which were predominantly Democratic.
Another Bush appointee, Judge Stanley Birch Jr., lobbed the sharpest questions at Democrats, saying repeatedly that Florida law provides no clear standards for the recounts.
"No one has won this election, as far as I know," he said. "It's still very up in the air."
Olson noted that Gore is still contesting the election in court.
For comments, contact Lori O'Toole at 864-4810 or e-mail editor@kansan.com
The essence of justice is everybody plays by the same rules, and we have to know those rules are," Birch said.
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a defendant in both cases, has argued there was no need for the appeals court to act because the recounts were finished and Bush had been certified the winner of the state by 53".
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count disputed ballots are unfair.
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Ivory Coast wracked by violence
The Associated Press
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Police battled opposition supporters, and gangs of youths split slums into ethnic enclaves in the Ivory Coast's main city yesterday, as a second day of political and ethnic violence left at least 10 people dead. An opposition official estimated that 30 people had been killed.
Youths with machetes and iron bars set up roadblocks to find, and often beat, members of enemy tribes as the city once known as the "Paris of Africa" turned into a patchwork of chaos and calm, with most stores closed and people staying home. Hardest hit were Abidjan's poor, densely populated areas.
The protests were set off by the Supreme Court's decision last week to disqualify the main opposition leader, Alassane Dramane
Quattara, from running in legislative elections on Sunday. The decision led to a protest on Monday, with the violence extending into yesterday.
In many cases, the mainly northern, Muslim followers of Uoattara bludgeoned and stabbed those identified as southerners, while some pro-government southerners carried out revenge attacks.
Regional and ethnic tensions have heightened since December 1999, when Ivory Coast's first coup shattered the country's reputation as a haven of financial and political security in a region wracked by wars and civil unrest.
Hundreds died in violence following October's presidential elections. In that vote, Gen. Robert Guel, the junta leader, stopped vote-counting and claimed victory when it appeared Laurent Ghabgo, an opposition activist, had more
votes. The move sparked an uprising that brought Gbabo to power.
Ouattara also was banned from the presidential vote. In both cases, the court ruled he was ineligible because of doubts about his citizenship. Ouattara insists he and his parents are Ivorian.
Yopougon residents said southerners burned the homes of Muslim northerners in the neighborhood.
The United Nations and France, Ivory Coast's former colonial ruler, have criticized Gbagbo's government for barring Ouattara from the legislative ballot. Yesterday, the United Nations canceled election assistance to the country.
Yesterday's violence came despite a state of emergency and a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew imposed by the government the night before. The measures remain in effect until Tuesday.
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The University of Kansas • Division of Student Affairs Office of Student Financial Aid 50 Strong Hall •1450 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, KS 66045-7535 •(785) 864-4700 www.ku.edu/~osfa