Voter list finalized in Ivory Coast, removing last obstacle to holding long-delayed election

Ivory Coast officials approve final voter list

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Officials in Ivory Coast have approved a finalized voter list, removing the last obstacle to holding a long-delayed presidential election.

At a ceremony on Thursday, President Laurent Gbagbo signed a decree issuing national identity cards to those appearing on the final voter list.

Disputes over citizenship sparked a civil war in the West African nation in 2002, and the voter list automatically grants citizenship to those who are on it.

Gbagbo acknowledged that some legitimate citizens were probably left off the final list, but he said that an appeals process would be opened following the election now set for Oct. 31.

Presidential elections have been delayed every year since 2005, when Gbagbo finished his last term.