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

The visit of Mr. Bedie, President of the opposition Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI), in the Bandaman region (near Bouake in the rebel held zone); and the suspension of the protest of the former combatants of the New Forces (FN) who are demanding $11,000 USD payment for their reinsertion into civilian life are the top stories in today's Ivorian newspapers. The Democratic convention in the United States of America also leads the headlines in some Ivorian newspapers.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A banner headline said the U.S. Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party is "racing for the gold medal to the White House." The paper also released a photo of Obama introducing Joseph Biden as his vice presidential candidate.

2. A banner headline quotes the President of the opposition PDCI, Mr. Bedie, addressing the population in Brobo (rebel held zone in Central Cote d'Ivoire) as saying that they should not hand their identification papers to anyone. The ruling FPI has recently launched "Operation Inundations" which consists of collecting voters' birth certificates to help them register for their identification cards so they can register to vote in the upcoming presidential elections.

3. The paper further quotes Mr. Wodie, the President of the opposition PIT (Labor party), as saying: "There will not be elections on November 30." Mr. Wodie complained that Ivorian political leaders are not making any effort to reinforce peace.

4. In L'inter (an independent daily) the opposition PDCI party's President, Mr. Bedie, "attacks" the ruling FPI, saying that it has not succeeded in running the country. A separate article in the paper says that Mr. Obama turned down financial support of $ 847,457 (USD) from the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) for the "Africans for Obama" project.

5. "Myth or reality" questions the L'intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily) in a banner headline. The paper releases a special eight-page report on the Ivorian November elections. The special dossier mainly reviews the feasibility of holding the elections on November 30, concluding that this date is unlikely. It also raises questions about the future of Prime Minister Soro and his rebel movement following the elections.

6. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) claims in a banner headline to know the true story about last week's protest of the former combatants of the Forces Nouvelles in Bouake. According to the paper, Mr. Ibrahima Coulibaly is the brains of the group, as he is very close to Mr. Diaby, the spokesman of the ex-combatants. The paper refers to a controversial short video shows Mr. Coulibaly with people identified as mercenaries.

7. In a front-page story, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling party) comments positively on the Bedie visit in central Cote d'Ivoire as "extraordinary mobilization," Claiming he drew unexpectedly large crowds.The paper reveals that former combatants of the Forces Nouvelles have suspended their protest in order to support Mr. Bedie's tour in Bouake.