IVORY Coast’s main opposition has claimed victory in local elections that saw President Laurent Gbagbo’s party beaten into third place, saying the result put his legitimacy in further doubt. The party organ of former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara’s Rally of the Republicans, which boycotted last year’s presidential and parliamentary votes, said the result supported the demand for a re-run of those ballots. Results declared for all but three of 197 communes where voting took place on Sunday gave the RDR control of 64 and the former ruling Democratic Party (PDCI) 59. Gbagbo’s Ivorian Popular Front was way behind with 33. Independents won 38. – Reuters