Ivory Coast opposition candidate suspends participation in presidential vote

Amara Essy, candidate for the 2015 presidential election and member of the ruling coalition of RHDP attends a news conference in Abidjan February 26, 2015. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Former Ivory Coast foreign minister turned opposition candidate Amara Essy said on Tuesday he had suspended his participation in this month's presidential election, saying the process was undemocratic and dominated by the incumbent.

President Alassane Ouattara is heavily favoured to win re-election in the Oct. 25 ballot, meant to draw a line under a decade-long crisis that ended in a civil war that killed over 3,000 people after the last presidential vote in 2010.