ouattara said that he was eligible to stand in this election, scheduled to be held in 2000, pointing to documents which he said demonstrated that he and his parents were of ivorian birth, as required by the electoral code. he was accused of forging these papers, however, and an investigation was begun. his nationality certificate was annulled by a court in october 1999 and an arrest warrant for ouattara was issued a month later, although he was in france at the time.