National transitional council elects executive board

The Central African Republic's transitional advisory and law-making body, known as the National Transitional Council (NTC), elected on Saturday its executive board, comprising two women and five men, state-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Sunday. The chairman of the human rights organisation Ligue Centrafricaine des Droit de l’Homme, Nicolas Tiangaye, was elected speaker and Justin Ndjapou, a magistrate and professor of law at the University of Bangui, became the board's first deputy speaker. A former minister, Charles Massi, was elected second deputy speaker. Massi was among 21 people who, together with former President Andre Kolingba, were sentenced to death in August 2002 in connection with a coup attempt by Kolingba on 28 May 2001 against then President Ange-Felix Patasse. Former army chief of staff Francois Bozize took power on 15 March when he ousted Patasse. The posts of the general reporter and the first administrative and financial officer of the executive board went to the two women. There are six women among the 98 council members. The council comprises delegates from all political, social, religious and professional affiliations, as well as delegates from the country's 16 provinces. Former presidents David Dacko and Kolingba are honorary members. Bozize inaugurated the council on 30 May. Among its immediate duties is the preparation of national dialogue that the government has announced would be held in third quarter of 2003. The council is also charged with drafting a new constitution, preparing for a referendum scheduled for mid-2004, the presidential election planned for the third quarter of 2004 and parliamentary and municipal elections due in the last quarter of 2004. Bozize, who has indicated that the transitional period in the country would end in January 2005, has said he would not contest the presidency.