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

In today's Ivorian press, the issuance of an international arrest warrant for former Sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly, aka IB for coup plotting as well as elections and political activities by one of the opposition parties were the dominant topics. One paper also reported on Ambassador Lagon's recent visit to Cote d'Ivoire.

1. In Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): a banner headline said: "Police around the world are tracking down IB." According to the paper, the warrant to arrest IB is for "plotting a coup to destabilize Cote d'Ivoire." The paper said that the Ivorian military prosecutor, Colonel Ange Kessi has confirmed that the warrant was issued yesterday. The paper further explained that through this international arrest warrant, "the Ivorian martial court is allowing police anywhere in the world to find and to arrest IB."

2. Still on the subject of coup plotting, L'inter (a privately-owned daily) reported that ten people including two French nationals, three Ivorians, four Malians, one Gambian, were arrested and detained in a prison in Abidjan, a couple of weeks ago pending further investigations. According to the paper, IB, who was said that he would come back home next month and denied the allegations, saying that he had been "victim of a manipulation designed to prevent his return from exile." IB reportedly said, "I've never planned to foment a coup d'etat and I'm surprised by what is going on."

3. On elections, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party), reported that the French Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, Andre Janier said, "It's up to the Ivorian to fix the date of their elections." Janier said this after meeting President Laurent Gbagbo. The paper commented that, by making this statement, "The French Ambassador has reaffirmed Ivorian authorities' full responsibility to fix a date for the forthcoming presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire." The language of the French diplomat, the paper further commented, is that "the fixing of a date for the Ivorian election is not the job of France." Notre Voie reminded readers that a few days ago French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said, "It is not serious if the presidential elections [in Cote d'Ivoire] are pushed back by a month or two."

4. In a commentary on the elections, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) reflected on whether the presidential elections are not "a lasting bomb." The commentary said that Gbagbo's constant reference to the mayhem unfolding in Kenya is a warning to his opponents.

5. As the congress of the RDR is set to start tomorrow, 24 Heures (a daily close to the opposition) suggested that the leader of this party, Alassane Dramane Ouattara will face five challenges. The paper hinted that days before the congress kicks off, Ouattara opened "the Pandora Box" in a bid to hear from the party's grass root supporters. The move, commented the paper, was part of a political ruse that enabled the Ivorian opposition leader to listen to grievances from those militants who believed to have been abandoned by the leadership of the party.

6. A story in Fraternite Matin said that the leadership of the RDR party is gripped by "infighting" over executive positions in the party. According to the paper, "the battle" is not over the chairmanship of the party, because its mentor, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, is the only candidate vying for this position. According to the paper, the quarrel is about who takes the position of the secretary general, which is the number two position in the party's chain of command.

7. In a separate development, Fraternite Matin informed readers that the new chairman of the board of directors of SNPECI - the publisher of the Cote d'Ivoire's only state-owned daily, has assumed duty. According to the paper, Viviane Zunon-Kipre pledged to contribute her quota to peace and reunification. She also promised to respect the paper's "neutral and impartial" editorial line in order to guarantee free access to information to all.

8. L'intelligent d'Abidjan (a privately-owned daily) reported on Ambassador Mark Lagon's the recent visit to Cote d'Ivoire. The paper said the Ambassador encouraged the Ivorian government to continue its efforts in the fight against trafficking in persons.