This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

1. Ripples in the New Forces zone and an international arrest warrant against Sargent-Chief Ibrahim Coulibaly alias "IB" dominate today's press.

2. "Gbagbo, Soro, Bedié and ADO unanimous: 2008 is the election year" is the headline of Fraternité Matin, (the state-owned daily). According to the paper, in a message addressed to Ivorians, Bedié is quoted as saying: "Our country is threatened by poverty, disease, violence and insecurity. The solution to these problems is the organization of fair, free and transparent elections under the supervision the United Nations. It is only the elections that can save our country from the chaos."

Alassane Ouattara is reported to want elections according to international standards, while Soro tells Ivorians to get ready to go to elections in 2008.

The paper also reports that the state of Cote d'Ivoire is going to ask Benin's authorities to extradite Sargent-Chief IB. If he is no longer in Benin (he was reportedly seen in Takoradi, Ghana last Saturday) an international arrest warrant will be launched against him. According to the paper, IB's destablization plans go beyond the troubles of recent days within the New Forces. Information in possession of the government says that the destabilization effort will be extended to Cote d'Ivoire defense and security forces as well.

3. L'Inter (an independent daily): The paper runs a banner headline reading, "Inclination for destabilization, after Bouaké, Abidjan is in the viewfinder; a soldier revealed everything". According to the paper, after a secret meeting with some members of the defense and security forces, one soldier revealed that arms are going to thunder again in this beautiful country. The reason: Gbagbo must quit power. According to that soldier the date chosen for the coup d'etat is today, Monday, December 31.

The paper also reports that "IB" supporters are being tracked in Bouake. Since December 26, sixty persons have been arrested. That number might increase because of the disappearance of IB from Benin.

4. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to RDR): The paper carries a front-page story saying "Sabotage attempt against the Ouagadougou Agreement, Gbagbo launched an international arrest warrant against IB; the Sargent-Chief is persona non grata in Benin; here are his financial sources". According to the paper, after Ibrahim Coulibaly alias "IB" left Benin, a statement has been released declaring him persona non grata in that country.

Gbagbo, IB's supposed supporter, and Soro examined the involvement of IB in the destabilization of the New Forces zones and the threat of his actions pose to the peace process. The paper claims Gbagbo was convinced of IB's involvement. The President has therefore decided to work to prevent IB from doing more harm.

The paper reports that some military sources within the New Forces say that IB does not act alone. According to information from the New Forces soldiers, IB acts with the benediction of the presidential camp. For IB's destabilization manoeuvers, he has the financial and logistical support of Gbagbo's system. The collaboration between the presidential camp and IB started in 2005 during Gbagbo's visit to Cotonou when Matthieu Kerekou was president.

5. "After the bloody clashes in Bouaké, Gbagbo asks Alassane Ouattara for an explanation" is the headline in Le Matin d'Abidjan (a daily close to Gbagbo). According to the paper, Ouattara made a surprise visit to Gbagbo last Saturday. Since the beginning of ripples in Bouaké, some sources affirm that the rebellion suspects Ouattara of having some acquaintance with the trouble-makers. Called on by Gbagbo, who was concerned about the peace process, the RDR leader came to the presidency to show his support at a time when Soro decided to punish his assailants and their silent partners.

The paper also reports that after the dismantling of ex-combatants, the reinsertion has become a reality. The agents of SITEL, the office in charge of identification, went to the north last Saturday and Sunday to meet with the ex-combatants in order to have an idea of what they want to do after demobilization.

6. 24 Heures (a daily close to the opposition) carries a front page story that says: "The human hunting in Bouake is growing, thirty nine pro-IB soldiers disappeared." According to the paper, to end definitely all the uprisings occuring these days in Bouaké, the New Forces have decided to speed up their actions. The "cleaning" they are doing in Bouaké does not spare anyone. It is in that atmosphere that 39 soliders of the ex-rebellion have disappeared.

The paper reports that Soro returned to Bouake last weekend and talked to his population. During his address to his people, he verbally attacked IB. Soro said that he was the first spokesperson of the New Forces when the war started and he knows very well all the demands, which are fair and free elections and identity cards for all the citizens. So he has never betrayed anyone by signing the Ouagadougou Agreement.

For Soro, a coup d'etat was foiled last Thursday and a speech had even been prepared to be read on television and radio saying that the coup members are angry with him and that a saviour will come from Cotonou. He attacked IB by saying: "God has given him muscles and a height to be a great boxer but he does not want to be a boxer. Although God has not given him a mind to be president, he doesn't want to accept that." He told the population that all security measures have been taken and that if the "Dozos" (traditional hunters) had not risen up last week, he would have been surprised by the coup d'etat that could have succeeded.

7. "Uprising of soldiers in the New Forces zone, the real target of the operation" is the headline in Le Rebond (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI party). According to the paper, in a statement after last Thursday's shootings in Bouake, the New Forces announced that they foiled a coup d'etat. In reality, the real target of the operation was Abidjan. But to succeed, the insurgents wanted to annihilate the current New Forces authorities and install a new leaders because for them the current authorities will not overthrow Gbagbo from power because of the peace process.