Abidjan, 11 December 2011.... "The voting is going smoothly in a positive and calm atmosphere," said the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Bert Koenders, said at midday on Sunday.

Mr. Koenders had toured polling stations in several neighbourhoods in Abidjan very early this morning, in the company of members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of regional and sub-regional institutions.

"It is very important to see what is happening in polling stations throughout the country," said the Special Representative, adding that a team of 600 people had been deployed throughout the country to see how the legislative elections were going.

Insisting that it was premature to make an assessment at this stage, Mr. Koenders nevertheless told journalists that most of the polling stations had opened on time in a positive and calm atmosphere.

He also said that he was impressed by the work of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), as well as the discreet presence of the security forces.
Asked about the inclusiveness of the polls, the Special Representative highlighted the presence of various political groups. "There are many candidates from different parties and many independent candidates, he added.

For his part, the chief of the African Union Observer Mission, Seini Oumarou, said that his first impressions after visiting polling stations in different neighbourhoods in Abidjan, were good, pending the count. Mr. Oumarou also described the organisation of the polls as impeccable. "The material generally arrived on time," said the chief of the AU mission, expressing the hope that the level of participation would increase as time went.

"It will not be high as during the presidential election, but the low turnout which we saw in the beginning is gradually increasing," he said, welcoming UNOCI's work on the ground. "UNOCI has done an excellent job," said Mr. Oumarou.

The UNOCI delegation and members of the diplomatic corps went to several polling stations in the different neighbourhoods of Abidjan, such as Bingerville, Yopougon, Abobo, Cocody, Koumassi and Port-Bouet.

In each voting centre, Mr. Koenders chatted with voters, representatives of polling stations, as well as representatives of the candidates. They explained their respective roles and often raised their concerns with him.

High-level delegations and international observers also went to the interior of the country to monitor the electoral operations.