A key figure in South Africa's mediation efforts in Ivory Coast says elections set for next month in the war-divided nation are unlikely.
South African Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said Thursday it is possible to postpone the October 30 elections until November.
But he added there is no reason elections cannot be held by the end of the year.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said it will be impossible to hold the October elections. He said Ivorian leaders have not cooperated and have not taken the necessary steps ahead of the polls.
Efforts to hold the elections have been plagued by problems. Ivory Coast rebels have rejected the polls, claiming conditions are not in place for a free vote.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.
