The ruling party in Ivory Coast wants President Alassane Ouattara to run for a third term after the man who was slated to succeed him died suddenly earlier this month.

The executive director of the RHDP, Adama Bictogo, told RFI that Mr Ouattara was "best placed" to beat the opposition and was the "cement" holding the party together.

President Ouattara was expected to step down after elections in October and the party had chosen the Prime Minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, to run to replace him. But a fortnight ago he died after falling ill at a ministerial meeting.

The party is now looking for a replacement but Mr Bictogo says President Ouattara should stand to avoid splitting the party.

RFI quotes a presidential source as saying that Mr Ouattara was "still hesitating" about whether or not to stand, after saying he would not seek a third term.