Seleka fighters respect January peace deal with CAR government: Seleka leader
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:34AM GMT
Seleka fighters in the Central African Republic (CAR) say they would respect a peace deal signed between them and the CAR government in January.
'We are still keeping to the spirit of Libreville,' Michel Djotodia, the leader of the Seleka coalition, told Radio France Internationale on Sunday, referring to the capital city of Gabon, where the peace deal was signed.
Djotodia noted that CAR Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye would remain in his post despite the fall of President Francois Bozizé's government. Tiangaye had been appointed prime minister to lead a national unity government as part of the peace deal.
'It was said at Libreville that we had to... organize free and fair elections... Within three years, we are going to organize free and fair elections,' Djotodia noted.
Earlier on Sunday, the Seleka forces took complete control of capital Bangui after heavy fighting.
On Wednesday, CAR state TV announced two presidential decrees to free political prisoners, lift curfews, and ban road blocks manned by pro-Bozizé militia.
'We no longer trust Bozizé's promises. We are calling for him to resign, otherwise we will force him out,' Seleka spokesman Eric Massi said on Thursday.
On January 11, the CAR president and representatives of the Seleka fighters signed an agreement in Libreville, Gabon after three days of negotiations brokered by regional neighbors.
Under the deal, some opposition figures and Seleka coalition members were given a number of key posts in the government.
The Seleka fighters launched an offensive against the CAR government in December 2012.
There are many mineral resources, including gold and diamonds, in the Central African Republic. However, the country is extremely poor and has faced a series of rebellions and coups since it gained independence in 1960.
NT/AS
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