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Central Africa Deal Moves Forward after PM Dismissal
[An Nahar] Central African President Francois Bozize on Saturday sacked his prime minister to comply with the terms of a ceasefire deal reached with a rebel coalition during peace talks in Libreville.

Faustin Archange Touadera was dismissed as prime minister in a decree read out on public radio and should be replaced by a member of the opposition.

Opposition sources have touted a possible candidate to replace Touadera as lawyer Nicolas Tiangaye, who led the opposition's delegation to the Libreville talks. But another opposition lawyer, Henri Pouzere, was also in the running.

The appointment marks the first political step towards resolving a conflict which began on December 10 when Seleka rebels launched an armed offensive, sweeping from the lawless north of the Central African Republic southwards before stopping short of the impoverished nation's capital Bangui.

Three days of tough negotiations mediated by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) -- whose base is the Gabonese capital Libreville -- on Friday produced an accord signed by the rebels, the ruling group and the democratic opposition.

As well as calling for an immediate ceasefire, the accord establishes a one-year transition period before general elections are held.

Posted by: Fred 2013-01-13
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=359960