Ivory Coast halts voter registration; move could postpone long-delayed presidential vote

Ivory Coast halts vote registration, delaying vote

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — An Ivory Coast official says leaders have halted the government’s review of the electoral roll, a decision that could indefinitely postpone this year’s presidential election.

General Government Secretary Felix Tyeoulou-Dyela said Thursday top leaders agreed to indefinitely close their review of eligible voters. Elections cannot be held without a finalized voter roll. The government had contested 1 million names on the national voting list of 6 million. That prompted widespread opposition protests as opposition supporters claimed they were unfairly targeted.

Presidential elections have been delayed every year since 2005, when President Laurent Gbagbo finished his last term. Elections are now slated for late February or early March.