The UN Security Council has renewed arms, financial and travel sanctions on the Ivory Coast for six months, as well as a ban on trade in rough diamonds from the West African country.
But the council also pledged in a resolution adopted unanimously by all 15 members to review the sanctions within three months as soon as the world's top cocoa producer holds "open, free, fair and transparent" presidential elections.
A failed 2002 rebellion against president Laurent Gbagbo split the country into a rebel north and government-run south, triggering a crisis that scared investment from what was once the region's star economy.
Elections on Octobter 31st are meant to resolve the crisis and re-unify the country. They are five years overdue, but look increasingly likely to happen at last, now that disputes over voter registration and rebel disarmament have been resolved.
A new poll shows that Mr Gbagbo is the most popular candidate, with 46 per cent of voters intending to vote for him in the first round.
The UN arms embargo was imposed in 2004 over violations of a 2003 cease-fire between the government and the rebels. A UN report this week said both sides have continued re-arming, despite hopes that the election will reunite the country.
Reuters