the rdr demonstrated in favor of ouattara's candidacy; a demonstration in abidjan reported as being 10,000 strong was held on september 27. a number of rdr leaders, including the party's secretary-general, henriette diabate, were arrested on october 27 on the grounds that they were responsible for violence occurring during protests they organized; in november, they were convicted and sentenced to prison. when soldiers rebelled on december 23, 1999, one of their demands was the release of the imprisoned rdr leaders; when president henri konan bédié rejected the demands, they seized power on december 24 and promptly released the rdr prisoners. ouattara returned to ivory coast on december 29, hailing bédié's ouster as a "revolution supported by all the ivorian people".