# File lib/maruku/attributes.rb, line 198
        def merge_ial(elements, src, con)      

                # Apply each IAL to the element before
                elements.each_with_index do |e, i| 
                if is_ial(e) && i>= 1 then
                        before = elements[i-1]
                        after = elements[i+1]
                        if before.kind_of? MDElement
                                before.al = e.ial
                        elsif after.kind_of? MDElement
                                after.al = e.ial
                        else
                                maruku_error "It is not clear to me what element this IAL {:#{e.ial.to_md}} \n"+
                                "is referring to. The element before is a #{before.class.to_s}, \n"+
                                "the element after is a #{after.class.to_s}.\n"+
                                "\n before: #{before.inspect}"+
                                "\n after: #{after.inspect}",
                                src, con
                                # xxx dire se c'รจ empty vicino
                        end
                end 
                end
                
                if not Globals[:debug_keep_ials]
                        elements.delete_if {|x| is_ial(x) unless x == elements.first} 
                end
        end