West African leaders meet Ivory Coast ruler Guei

YAMOUSSOUKRO, Ivory Coast (Reuters) -- Two West African leaders met Ivory Coast military ruler Gen. Robert Guei Thursday seeking to help promote a peaceful return to civilian rule in the world's top cocoa producer.

Togo's Gnassingbe Eyadema, who chairs the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and Benin's Mathieu Kerekou held talks with Guei at the residence of Ivory Coast's founding president, Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

Mali's president had been due to attend but failed to turn up. Some commentators linked this to the likelihood that Guei, put in power by soldiers who staged the country's first coup in December, would contest the September 17 presidential election.

The meeting, which lasted less than one hour, took place a day after news that Guei had asked the country's former ruling party, the Democratic Party (PDCI), to pick him as its candidate for the election.

Ivory Coast's neighbors have expressed concern about growing instability in what is sub-Saharan Africa's third biggest economy, especially after a July army mutiny.

On arrival at the airport, Kerekou said he and Eyadema had come to Yamoussoukro to make sure that Houphouet-Boigny's legacy of peace would be safeguarded.

"Our visit is a visit of friendship, consultation and prayer," he told reporters, stressing Ivory Coast's key role in the economy of the region.

Guei's director of protocol, Georges Ouegnin, confirmed the absence from the meeting of Mali's President Alpha Oumar Konare, who chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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