IVORIAN PARTY THREATENS ID MOVE!

Ivorian rebels believe that they have been discriminated against. The party of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo says it will stop "by all means" a programme to give identity papers to people of foreign origin. This exercise was supposed to start on Thursday but was delayed.

The issue of identity was one of the main triggers for the civil war that started nearly four years ago. The rebels who hold the north say they are regarded as foreigners, but Mr Gbagbo's supporters in the south fear immigrants will claim citizenship. The process must be completed before elections due in October can go ahead.

Some 10,000 French and United Nations peacekeepers monitor a buffer zone between the rebels in the north and the government-held south. Magistrates are supposed to hold hearings at which they will resolve who and who is not an Ivorian, in an exercise costing some $20m.
The magistrates were expected in the commercial capital, Abidjan, on Thursday but did not arrive.

Justice ministry officials would the exercise would "definitely" begin on Friday. Applicants over 13 years of age will have to prove that one of their parents is Ivorian to gain citizenship by appearing before them with two witnesses. A doctor will also examine each applicant to determine their age.

Among those to take part are some 3.5m people born in Ivory Coast but never registered. The power-sharing government has tried to reassure Mr Gbagbo's supporters that there are checks and balances to stop immigrants - mainly from neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso - claiming citizenship.

Those found guilty of making fraudulent claims will be given prison sentences but the ruling Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party is not satisfied. "We want to say to the government that we are firmly opposed to these hearings... and we will oppose this masquerade by every means," FPI leader Pascal Affi N'Guessan told a news conference packed with cheering activists.

Last week, after the intervention of UN head Kofi Annan, Ivory Coast's president and rebel leader agreed a new disarmament deadline aimed at breaking the deadlocked peace process. Pro-government militias, who have recently missed two deadlines, must hand in their arms by the end of July. The UN secretary general refused to say whether he thought October's polls could take place on time. He said that a meeting would be held in mid-September to evaluate the progress made and decide whether the elections will go ahead as scheduled.

BBC NEWS REPORT.