France, Oct. 3 -- In a statement released on Thursday, the National Security Council announced it would ban any public gatherings aimed at challenging the Constitutional Council's ruling barring two opposition leaders from standing in this month's election - a move that analysts say could backfire.

The measure comes as the two main opposition parties were planning to hold a march on Saturday to "demand dialogue for inclusive, transparent, and democratic elections".

The National Security Council (CNS) indicated that 44,000 members of the security and defence forces had been mobilised to "ensure a secure and peaceful election", carrying out joint patrols.

The statement said that since the Constitutional Council published its final list o...