Ivorian election 'not possible' on time

The polls have already been postponed on numerous occasions since 2005, when Gbagbo's mandate expired.

A close ally of Ivory Coast  President Laurent Gbagbo said Wednesday it was not possible to organise presidential elections by the scheduled date of November 29.

The polls have already been postponed on numerous occasions since 2005, when Gbagbo's mandate expired.

- If you want a transparent, solid, reliable (voters') list like everyone has recommended to us, it won't be possible to hold an election on November 29 - economic council chief Laurent Dona Fologo told AFP.

- The independent electoral commission, the only body with the power to fix the date of the elections, should assume its responsibilities and announce a delay," he added. "It seems to me that not even a miracle will enable us to meet the deadline. -

Observers have already said that it is unlikely that all will be ready for November 29, as the electoral list has yet to be published by the independent electoral commission.

Gbagbo's mandate ran out in 2005 while his west African country was divided between the government-held south and the north, held by rebel New Forces, who had tried to oust him in a coup in September 2002.

Gbagbo came to power in 2000 and has made peace with the New Forces, headed by Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, but he still only presides over half of the cocoa-rich nation. The rest remains in the hands of the former rebels.