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

Today Ivorian newspapers continued to report on the arrests of top officials in Cote d'Ivoire's Cocoa and coffee industry; the embezzlement at the Ministry of Mines and Energy; and the papers also reported on the "A levels," the end of secondary school exams.

1. Le Nouveau Réveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI) carried a headline which said: "Hearing of officials of coffee and cocoa industry, the examining magistrate in difficulty." According to the paper, out of four people summoned yesterday, only one showed up. The three others want a guarantee that they won't be arrested after their hearing before they come to see the magistrate, as all other people who met with the magistrate were sent to jail.

The paper also reported that Mr. Okaigni Okaigni, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the chocolate plant in Fulton, (USA) was arrested yesterday.

2. "Misappropriation of funds in the cocoa and coffee industry, Tape Koulou reveals: Envelops were sent to some ministers" is the front-page story of L'Inter (an independent daily). According to the paper, during an interview with Tape Koulou, a coffee and cocoa producer, he stated that the misappropriation of coffee and cocoa funds could have been avoided if ministers who co-signed checks were strict. But these ministers let people do what they wanted because big envelops of money were sent to them.

The paper also reported that the price of cocoa has gone up in New York since the arrest of the officials from the coffee and cocoa industry.

Regarding the upcoming election in Cote d'Ivoire, Robert Mambé, President of the Independent Electoral Commission, met last Friday with Prime Minister Soro to discuss difficulties in finding money to fund the electoral process. Mr. Mambe launched an appeal to the international community to continue to financially assist the electoral process. He also sent envoys to twenty countries to meet Ivorians before the installation of the Independent Electoral Commission sections abroad.

3. Le Matin d'Abidjan (a pro-FPI daily) carried a headline which said: "Ministry of Mines and Energy, nearly one billion embezzled; other candidates for jail await the Prosecutor Tchimou." According to the paper, nearly one billion was embezzled at the Ministry of Mines and Energy. From 2005 to 2007, the Managing Director of hydrocarbon and two of his staff had been taking money generated from research and production of petrol and gas in Cote d'Ivoire.

4. The front page story of Le Patriote (a daily close to the RDR) said: "Scandal in the coffee and cocoa industry, here is Gbagbo's truth to the executive staff of his ethnic group: if you want, don't vote for me; I will not intercede for anyone". According to the paper, during the funeral of Gbagbo's uncle last Saturday in Gagnoa, Gbagbo's home town, some of the population asked President Gbagbo to release officials of the coffee and cocoa industry. For these people it is not good for Gbagbo to send to jail his own "brothers" at five months from the election. Gbagbo refused and told them not to vote for him if they want.

The paper also reported that the end of secondary school exams (A levels) started yesterday throughout the Ivorian territory. Unfortunately, some students were arrested for cheating.

5. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) reported during an interview on Radio France International yesterday that Charles Konan Banny, former Ivorian Prime Minister, stated that the operation "clean hands" should not stop with the coffee and cocoa industry only. It should also be extended to other sectors. According to the paper, Mr. Banny said that in order to have transparent elections, militia must be dismantled, people should be able to circulate freely in the country and each Ivorian must have the right to vote.