Ivorians need security at the polls

Ivorians need to be assured they will be safe when they head to the polls to pick their next legislative assembly, the country's U.N. special envoy said. Ivorians head to the polls next month for legislative elections. The elections are the first since rival claims to the presidency last year pushed the country to the brink of civil war. Bert Koenders, U.N. special envoy to Ivory Coast, said security and logistics present some of the greatest challenges to next month's contest. "It is important that all Ivorians in whichever region they will be voting feel they are included and that there is maximum security," Koenders said in a statement. "People must feel that they are voting in fair and transparent elections." Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down after Alassane Ouattara was recognized as the winner of a November presidential election meant to unite a country divided by civil war in 2003. Thousands were killed and many more displaced in the ensuing political violence that ended with Gbagbo's arrest in April. Human-rights groups have said both sides to the conflict likely committed atrocities during the post-election conflict.