The Malaysian Insider :: Breaking Views
The Malaysian Insider :: Breaking Views |
| C.African Republic leader accepts regional transition road map Posted: 04 Apr 2013 10:03 AM PDT BANGUI, April 4 — The rebel leader who seized power in Central African Republic and proclaimed himself president accepted today a call by regional leaders to speed up a transition to democracy, but could stay in office, his information minister said. Michel Djotodia led thousands of rebel fighters of the Seleka coalition into the riverside capital of the mineral-rich country on March 24, toppling President Francois Bozize. African heads of state refused to recognise Djotodia as the country's legitimate leader at a summit in Chad yesterday and called for the creation of a transitional council to lead the nation to elections within 18 months. "(Djotodia) accepted all of the recommendations made in N'Djamena ... He accepted all the schemes outlined by the heads of state," Christophe Gazam Betty told reporters following a meeting between Djotodia and regional foreign ministers. African and Western leaders have condemned the seizure of power by the rebels, who accused Bozize of failing to implement previous peace agreements. The African Union suspended the former French colony and imposed sanctions on Djotodia while Washington said he was not a legitimate leader. Djotodia has already tried to contain international condemnation by creating a transitional government headed by a civilian prime minister, Nicolas Tiangaye, and promising elections in three years. However, the regional leaders called for the creation of a transitional body elected by all of the country's political actors and rebel groups to be charged with drawing up a new constitution and preparing the way for elections. Under the plan, the council's head will serve as Central African Republic's president during the transition, which Gazam Betty said could allow Djotodia to keep his current position, this time with international approval. "Everyone will be a candidate. If Mr Djotodia, after all he's done to date, wants to be a candidate, I see no reason why he wouldn't be president," he said. TROUBLED COOPERATION South African President Jacob Zuma, who attended the summit in Chad, announced late yesterday that he would be withdrawing his country's troops from Central African Republic. The killing of at least 13 South African soldiers by the rebels during the March 24 onslaught has prompted questions about South African's role in the country, and how a military training mission there became entangled in an internal conflict. South African media reports have suggested the soldiers were defending South African mining interests, but officials in Pretoria have denied this. They say the presence of the 400 South African troops was covered by a 2007 bilateral defence accord with Bozize. "South Africa and South African troops will never serve any unconstitutional government ... Because there is no constitutional government in CAR, our troops are coming back home," Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said today. Djotodia's rebel movement, known as Seleka, had previously called for South African troops to leave Central African Republic. But today, Gazam Betty told Reuters that the agreement between Pretoria and Bozize's administration would remain in effect, despite the president's overthrow. "South Africa wishes to review with the new Central African authorities how this cooperation will evolve. Of course it will continue. No one has said any different," Gazam Betty said. "There is a lot of work to do, and South Africa has a place in all that," he said. — Reuters |
| US agents seize Bissau drug kingpin at sea Posted: 04 Apr 2013 09:58 AM PDT PRAIA, April 4 — US anti-narcotics officers have arrested the former navy chief of Guinea Bissau, wanted by Washington as a kingpin of the international drugs trade, in an operation off the coast of West Africa, two sources familiar with the operation said. Rear Admiral Bubo Na Tchuto, who has been involved in several failed coups in the former Portuguese colony, was arrested along with four other people on a boat in international waters in a sting operation mounted by undercover agents, the sources said. He was transported to Cape Verde, from where he would be sent to the United States for prosecution, the sources said. Na Tchuto was one of two Bissau Guineans designated as drug kingpins by the US government in 2010, suspected of involvement in cocaine smuggling from South America. — Reuters |
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