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 meeting between the First Lady and the New Forces was the front-page story reported by the Ivorian newspapers today. In addition, other major issues included the Ivorian presidential elections; the identification and census process; the World Bank and the United States aid to Africa; and the U.S. presidential elections.

1. The meeting between Simone Gbagbo, the Ivorian First Lady, and the New Forces was at the head of today's Ivorian dailies reports. All of them reported that the two parties agreed that the meeting was satisfactory for it was the opportunity for them to franckly discuss about ways to definitely end up with the crisis. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily), reported on the New Forces' spokesman's comments in a headline story saying: "We are satisfied". The article also quoted the First Lady stating that the meeting was extremely interesting and enriching. L'inter (an independent daily) also outlined the First Lady's comments that the New Forces expect the government to help them find out solutions to deal with the difficulties they were facing in their efforts to settle the crisis. Soir Info (an independent daily)'s report headlined a story displaying: "The clash did not take place," adding that the First Lady and the New Forces Spokesman discussed about essential issues relating the ending of the crisis. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the opposition PDCI party) in a headline story quoted the First Lady saying: "We discussed about the proper implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement." L'intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily)'s report on the same subject outlined that the discussion turned on the issues of disarmament, the integration of the volunteer teachers, and the Ouagadougou Political Agreement. The New Forces spokesman said that a report will be provided to the Secretary for the implementation of initiatives to rapidly end the crisis. Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) quoted the First Lady saying: "It was an extremely interesting meeting," just like Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party).

2. Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) published an article on the Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, Young-jiin Choi, visit to Ouagadougou in the framework of the identification process. According to the article, Mr. Choi declared that the success of the identification process will resolve a basic issue troubling Cote d'Ivoire for two decades. He also restated the UN Mission commitment to support the Ivorian government.

3. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party): Still on the identification process implementation, the daily issued a notice from the Independent Electoral Commission on a training session for the identification and census agents beginning Tuesday September 09. Le Jour Plus also reported on the same subject. Soir Info also reported specifying that the identification and census process was due to start on September 15, 2008.

4. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper reported on the World Bank support to the Ivorian coffee and cocoa industry. The article said that the World Bank Vice-president, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili and the Ivorian Minister of Economy and Finance visited a "cocoa school" where farmers meet every other week to train in cocoa farming in Tiassale. According to the newspaper, Mrs. Obiageli declared that the World Bank was engaged in working with the government to better manage the coffee and cocoa industry in Cote d'Ivoire.

5. In a separate article, the paper provided a story headlined: "15 billion CFA provided for funding African agro-industry". Details from the article explained that a 100 million dollars (15 billion CFA) investment fund was created to support Sub-Saharan Africa's agro-industry sector. According to the report, insurance and finance companies, and the WK Kellogg Foundation from the United States have already provided 40 million dollars (18 billion CFA) of the total funds.

6. Reporting on the United States presidential elections Notre Voie provided an article saying that Palin the "rebel" attacked Obama's teammate, Joe Biden. The paper reported on Palin's speech during the Republican Convention saying that Senator Biden may boast of holding high responsibilities in Washington, but even his admirers did not qualify him as a change agent.

7. "To protest against the United States support to Georgia, Russia will carry out joint naval operations in Venezuela territorial waters," said in a headline story Notre Voie. The paper went on saying that this was of a great importance because it was the first time it was being done.

8. Soir Info (an independent daily) reported on US Secretary, Condoleezza Rice, visit in Rabat saying that the sharoui conflict should be resolved. According to the paper, Ms. Ricestated that the United States were going to support a conflict resolution process between Morocco and Algeria.

9. Soir Info reported on the President of the Panafrican Youth Congress, Ble Goude Charles's comments about the former ruling party PDCI, President Bedie's candidature to the Ivorian presidency saying: "don't entrust your future to the past." He said this during a meeting of an organization called "Generation Ble Goude" whose aim is to support Ble Goude's actions. According to the story, he added that in any kind of job, people get retired, a way to remind Bedie that his time is over.