Ivory Coast election chief confirms poll delay
(Adds details and background)
ABIDJAN, Nov 11 (Reuters) - The head of Ivory Coast's election commission publicly confirmed on Wednesday a "slight delay" in holding a presidential poll in the world's top cocoa grower set for Nov. 29.
The poll, meant to bring to an end a seven-year political crisis that was sparked by a 2002-2003 war and has split the nation, has been repeatedly postponed due to delays over rebel disarmament and identifying voters in the West African nation.
"November 29 would have been ideal -- we are going to delay it a bit. We will give the next date in a decree once all the parties have agreed to it," Robert Beugre Mambe, head of the election commission, told reporters.
Mambe did not say when he expected the election to go ahead. The new date is to be fixed at a meeting between Ivorian parties and international mediators in Burkina Faso this weekend.
The United Nations has only just started distributing provisional voter lists across the country and technically an election can only be held after they have been displayed for 38 days, a final list is agreed upon and voter cards are printed.
Moreover the eligibility of around one million voters is still disputed.
Independent analysts have previously cited early 2010 as the earliest possible time to stage an election that meets all the technical and legal requirements.
President Laurent Gbagbo is expected to face challenges from Henri Konan Bedie, a former president, and Alassane Ouattara, a former prime minister whose support base is in the rebel-dominated north of the country. (Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Writing by David Lewis; Editing by Louise Ireland)
