Ivory Coast recalls magistrates carrying out controversial ID scheme
"I have asked my staff to call back all the magistrates to reconstitute new teams," Justice Minister Mamadou Kone told AFP. Kone who is a member of the New Forces rebels serving in the transitional government said the decision was prompted by President Laurent Gbagbo's decree on Saturday to "appoint new magistrates."
The recall could constitute a de facto suspension of a critical phase of Ivory Coast's peace process, during which millions of undocumented Ivorians have to be registered ahead of presidential elections due by October 31.
But the minister could not be drawn to comment on that possibility.
Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny had however declared earlier Thursday that the identification process would run to its full term.
"There is no reason to worry, the identification operation will run its term," Banny said at meeting in Abidjan with local journalists.
"Each Ivorian ... will have his identity papers within the expected period," he said stressing that all provisions would be made to ensure the operation is carried out "effectively and diligently".
The start of the population identification exercise last month stirred renewed tension in the west African country, which has been split in two since a failed rebel coup attempt against President Laurent Gbagbo in 2002.
Forces loyal to Gbagbo were opposed to the ID scheme, sparking violent clashes and angry protests, but last week they agreed to lift their boycott after agreeing new guidelines to the process.
Gbagbo loyalists feared rebels in the north could try to claim Ivorian citizenship for millions of immigrants who could vote against Gbagbo in the presidential election.
But rebels were angry at the changes and threatened to withdraw from disarmament talks.
Under a United Nations plan, the cocoa-rich west African country should hold presidential polls by October 31 after completion of the identification and disarmament schemes.