The ruling party in the Comoros will form a new government on Tuesday charged with steering through fundamental reforms after negotiations to include opposition members failed, AFP said on Monday. Prime Minister Hamada Mazi Bolero said his 13-member cabinet have met with military ruler Colonel Azali Assoumane and won his approval. “The new government is a product of a meeting of representatives of the Comorian society who adopted a new constitution and called on the head of state to change the government and the council of state,” he said. Efforts to include the opposition in the government failed after they set tough conditions for their participation, a senior government official said. They demanded that Assoumane relinquish power within six months and make a formal announcement that he would not take part in future general elections. Assoumane has charged the new government with overseeing drastic redefinition of the Comorian state in an effort to resolve the bitter separatist crisis. In six months, the government is expected to organize a referendum on a new constitution that would grant considerable autonomy to the islands of Anjouan, Moheli and Grand Comoros. A federal government would be responsible for defence, currency, foreign and religious affairs.
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