Ivory Coast sees slow start to legislative polls

By LAURA BURKE

The Associated Press

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Polls are opening slowly and late in Ivory Coast's commercial capital as voters choose parliamentary representatives.

In this Friday, Dec. 9, 2011 photo, supporters of legislative election candidates from the party of president Alassane Ouattara march through the streets of the Abobo neighborhood, Abidjan, on the final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday legislative elections, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The poster at front reads 'United, to reconstruct Abobo.' The demonstration is on the final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday legislative elections, in Ivory Coast before Ivorians elect a national assembly for the first time in more than a decade on upcoming Sunday after months of violence that killed thousands.(AP Photo/Emanuel Ekra)

In this Friday, Dec. 9, 2011 photo, supporters of legislative election candidates from the party of president Alassane Ouattara march through the streets of the Abobo neighborhood of Abidjan carrying campaign posters. The demonstration is on the final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday legislative elections, in Ivory Coast before Ivorians elect a national assembly for the first time in more than a decade on upcoming Sunday after months of violence that killed thousands.(AP Photo/Emanuel Ekra)

In this Friday, Dec. 9, 2011 photo, passerby stop to look at a truck displaying campaign posters for legislative election candidates from the party of president Alassane Ouattara, in the Abobo district of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The campaigning is on the final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday legislative elections, in Ivory Coast before Ivorians elect a national assembly for the first time in more than a decade on upcoming Sunday after months of violence that killed thousands.(AP Photo/Emanuel Ekra)

Electoral commission spokesman Baba Coulibaly said nearly two hours after voting started Sunday that some stations in Abidjan had not opened. He says late-opening stations will close late.
Some 1,100 candidates are vying for 255 seats.
The poll is overshadowed by fallout from last year's contentious presidential poll. Former strongman Laurent Gbagbo awaits trial at The Hague over accusations that his forces committed murder and rape after he rejected his loss in the election. His party is boycotting Sunday's election.
The boycott will likely benefit candidates loyal to President Alassane Ouattara, who took power in April with the help of French and U.N. forces.