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

Cote d'Ivoire's presidential elections set for October 31 and the political fever in this country in the run-up to the much-awaited polls are the major issues in today's Ivorian press. President Laurent Gbagbo's state visit to the southern city of Agboville, the launching of an N1H1 immunization campaign and the ongoing US-backed talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas aimed at brokering a peace deal are the major issues in the press today.

1. After the legal contentions on the provisional electoral lists, the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) is demanding the publication of the final voter's list, says a report in Le Nouveau Courrier (a daily close to the ruling FPI party). According to the paper, UNOCI spokesperson Hamadoun Toure, who was speaking yesterday in Abidjan at a press conference, exhorted the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) to finalize the voter's list, adding that the finalization of the voter's register constitutes a major step in the organization of the long-delayed presidential elections officially set for October 31. "The electoral process has now reached a crucial stage," Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the cabinet of the Prime Minister) also quotes the UNOCI's spokesperson as saying at the press conference.

2. As efforts are underway for the voting to take place on October 31, Soir Info (an independent daily) announces important meetings billed to bring together Cote d'Ivoire's key political players in order to set the ground for a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the elections. The paper also hints that the meetings are set to take place this month and could bring together both political leaders and military commanders. President Gbagbo, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro and the two principal opposition leaders Henri Konan Bedie and Alassane Ouattara will set the stage, as they will be meeting as part of the second round of the inter-Ivorian dialogue, writes the paper. It also suggests that the four leaders will use the opportunity to evaluate commitments they made during their first talks two months ago. The paper also announces a meeting of the CPC - the committee overseeing the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement - that could bring together the Ivorian key political stakeholders and the mediator in the peace process, Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore.

3. On the much-awaited presidential elections, a prominent story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) says that President Gbagbo has cleared away doubt over the date of the date of the polls. "October 31 will mark the renaissance," the paper quotes the Ivorian leader as saying yesterday during his current official visit to the southern region of Agboville. The paper further quotes the Ivorian leader, who assured his fellow citizens that "The elections will take place on October 31 and that we have taken all the measures to lift all the obstacles on the way to the polls." In a related development, the Ivorian First Lady, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, who was speaking yesterday at a political rally in Abidjan, is quoted by the paper as saying: "Those who think there won't be elections on October 31 will be disappointed." "Gbagbo confirms the date and warns troublemakers," says a prominent story in the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin, which further comments that the ballots will bring to the end the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire.

4. With more on the electoral process, a report in Soir Info says the Ivorian youth has shown the way to the country's political leaders on how to safeguard a peaceful atmosphere. According to the paper, Kouadio Konan Bertin, leader of the youth wing of the opposition PDCI-RDA party, and Charles Ble Goude, the leader of the pro-ruling FPI party's Young Patriots movement, met yesterday to broker a peace deal between members of FESCI - Cote d'Ivoire Students' Federation. According to the paper, the two youth leaders also used the occasion to call for a peaceful political campaign.

5. On health issues, a report in Fraternite Matin says that the government launched yesterday an N1H1 immunization campaign in Abidjan. According to the paper, the program was launched with the financial support of the World Health Organization, which will provide 2 billion vaccines in order to fight the virus.

6. Finally, a report in L'inter (an independent daily) says that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have shown their good intentions as they are meeting in Washington as part of the US-backed peace process. The paper however reports that despite the two sides' willingness to resolve their differences, there are still some obstacles to overcome.