Law advisory body debates list of delegates to national talks

Central African Republic's law making body, the National Transitional Council, has started debate on the list of delegates to appear at the national conference on the country's political future, state-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Thursday. The council has been in session in the capital, Bangui, for over a week in preparation for the conference due to begin later in August. In debates broadcast live on the radio, council members debated the possible participation of former presidents Ange-Felix Patasse and Andre Kolingba, exiled in Togo and Uganda, respectively. Council members who belong to Patasse's Mouvement de liberation du peuple centrafricain and its allies favoured Patasse's participation in the talks but other members were for his exclusion. The council, comprising 98 members who include Kolingba and former President David Dacko as well as other delegates from political, religious and social affiliations, was established to examine the country's laws, prepare the national dialogue, draft a new constitution and to prepare for elections aimed at ending the transition. Former army chief of staff Francois Bozize, who overthrew Patasse on 15 March, has indicated that he would step down in January 2005. Patasse first announced plans for the national dialogue in November 2002, a month after Bozize started a rebellion in the north. Upon taking power, Bozize said the form and agenda of the talks would be redefined. He has kept Patasse's appointees, Bishop Paulin Pomodimo and Henri Maidou, as the coordinators of the national dialogue. Meanwhile, Morocco has pledged support for the Bangui government's efforts to restructure the army. Radio Centrafrique quoted government spokesman Zarambaud Assingambi on Thursday as saying that the Moroccan authorities had decided to allow all the country's military schools to train CAR army personnel. The announcement was made days after the government of France offered to train and equip some the country's army and gendarmerie units. Insecurity has persisted across the country since Bozize's coup, with the worst hit areas being in the north, where most of the fighting took place between October 2002 and March 2003 between government and rebel troops. However, with the support of the regional peace force of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States in the country, the government has recently restored security in most northern parts.