ABIDJAN, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire's former rebels have officially unfolded electoral census in Bouake, the stronghold of the New Forces (FN) which controls the northern part of the country.

    "This day marks a major action in the process out of crisis," Tourism Minister Konate Sidiki said on Tuesday, referring to voter identification in the run-up to the long-delayed presidential election.

    Sidiki, on behalf of Prime Minister Guillaume Soro who was the former rebel leader, said it was a dream yesterday for the people of Bouake to obtain cards of national identity and today it has come true, adding the whole world is turning eyes to the region of Bouake which has been considered for some time the FN headquarters.

    "The operation has gone ahead in the South (government), while today Bouake has opened the door for the operation of identification and electoral enrollment for the North," said Sidiki, former spokesman for the FN.

    The official launch of voter identification and registration in Bouake followed a publicity campaign in which the former rebel opened 275 centers to popularize the operations.

    Bouake accelerates the process after the West African country again postponed the scheduled vote amid widespread concerns.

    Cite d'Ivoire's leading politicians announced last week that the Nov. 30 election could not take place as preparations for the polls were behind schedule. They asked electoral officials to choose a new date for the election by Dec. 31.

    UN officials had previously warned of the slow identification work heading for another delay, posing a risk to the entire peace process.

    The 8,000-strong United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire urged the country to accomplish the identification process by the end of January 2009, and the election by the end of next spring.

    The presidential election has been repeatedly postponed as rival political forces differed over issues concerning demilitarization and identification since October 2005, when the scheduled vote failed.

    The country has been divided since a civil war erupted in September 2002. President Laurent Gbagbo and rebel FN leader Soro concluded a peace deal in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on March 4, 2007, under which Soro was named prime minister.

    In April, the parties concerned agreed to hold the presidential election on Nov. 30.