Ivory Coast votes in municipal election

The people of Ivory Coast are voting in municipal elections that are the first real electoral test since the military coup in 1999.

All the main parties are standing, including the main opposition Rally for the Republicans, which boycotted last year's parliamentary and presidential elections.

Correspondents say the voting opened in a peaceful atmosphere and there was no noticeable deployment of security forces.

Foreign countries have indicated that a resumption of economic ties depends largely on how the municipal polls are conducted.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service