ABIDJAN, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire's Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has kicked off the operation to distribute voter cards and the national identity cards to 5.7 million nationals ahead of the Oct. 31 presidential elections.
CEI spokesman Bamba Yacouba said the operation began on Wednesday afternoon within nine Abidjan districts and would spread to other districts hours later.
"The operation will begin in the districts of Marcory, Treichville, Port-Bouet, Koumassi, Plateau, Attecoube, Anyama, Songon and Bingerville," Yacouba said.
He asked the election officials to be present at the 10,179 polling stations to ensure a smooth running of the operation.
CEI called for "a sense of responsibility" on the part of the people entrusted with the duty of distributing the cards.
The electoral body also appealed to the public for "peace and serenity" at the polling stations, saying the Integrated Command Center (CCI) comprising 8,000 officers from ex-loyalists and ex- rebels will take charge of security.
With less than 30 days before the country holds the first round of the eagerly awaited presidential elections, CEI warns against anything that might jeopardize the elections.
Yacouba reaffirmed the electoral body’s commitment to organize free and fair presidential elections on Oct. 31.
The West African country’s presidential elections have been postponed several times since 2005, due to political differences among the main political actors and to financial and logistical problems.
The upcoming vote is expected to end the political crisis and reunite the country which was divided in two in 2002 after an attempted coup against President Laurent Gbagbo by the ex-rebel New Forces.
