Presidential elections postponed until the first quarter of 2009

Sources reported on 17 October 2008 that long-delayed presidential elections scheduled for 30 November will once again be postponed until the first quarter of 2009. The delay is due to the ongoing problems regarding voter identification and registration throughout the country. Representatives of President Laurent Gbagbo's government and former rebel leaders met in the Burkinabe capital of Ouagadougou over the last few days to discuss the necessary vote delay. The official government announcement regarding the postponement is expected to be made next week at which time the nation's electoral commission will issue a new date for the presidential polls.