Nord-Sud: The secretariat-general of the FPI party of former president Laurent Gbagbo last Saturday renewed its five conditions in order to take part in politicval negotiations initiated by the government. These include the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Gbagbo, the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, civilians and military staff under "arbitrary" detention, and the return of all exiles.



Soir Info: According to reliable sources close to the Ministry of Justice, several pro-Gbagbo personalities who are awaiting trial in Ivorian prisons might be released on bail this week. UNOCI and certain human rights organisations are said to have confirmed the information to some prisoners they have been visiting. Earlier this month, the Criminal Appeal Court in Abidjan granted "automatic" bail to some 14 pro-Gbagbo personalities including the former president's son, Michel Gbagbo.



Nord-Sud: The Ivorian Movement for Human Rights has welcomed the adoption of laws on rural land ownership as well as nationality and the status of stateless persons. The Movement said by defining the status of stateless persons, Cote d'Ivoire was fulfilling its international obligations.



L'Expression: A group of eight civil society organisations including the Ivorian branch of the West African Network for Peace Building, the West African Civil Society Forum, the Women's Centre for Democracy and Human Rights and five others says the Independent Electoral Commission needed to be re-conceived and revamped. At the end of a 3-day working session, the group proposed electoral reforms including the coupling of the presidential and legislative elections as well as the regional and municipal elections, the elimination of accumulation of posts of responsibility, the carving of electoral constituencies based on population density, surface area and economic importance among others.



Fratmat.info: Taxis equipped with taxi meters were to begin a 5-day strike today to protest against unlawful competition by unmarked transport vehicles which circulate freely in the communes without official documents and without harassment by the forces of law and order.