Bozize apologises to nation over war

Central African Republic leader Francois Bozize apologised to the nation on Tuesday for damages and suffering caused during the war he waged against President Ange-Felix Patasse between October 2002 and March 2003. "From the bottom of my heart, I apologise to the country's daughters and sons," Bozize told the 350 delegates attending the national reconciliation talks in the capital, Bangui. He said that during the war, some of his fighters had committed many excesses including looting and destroying public property. He said his relatives and those of his fighters were also targeted by reprisals. "I personally accept the consequences of my political action and, as a leader, bear responsibility for the suffering endured by certain categories of my compatriots," Bozize said. He mentioned the foreigners, religious communities and businessmen who were victimised by the 15 March coup. During the war that took place largely in the north of the country, churches were looted and destroyed. Soon after Bozize's coup, shops and state-owned buildings in Bangui were also looted and some burnt. These included offices of the World Bank and the UN World Health Organisation. While repeating that his apology was sincere, Bozize said the public should not be blinded by apologies made by some political actors since they still kept firearms in their homes, to destabilise the nation. Bozize’s apology follows those made by former Presidents Andre Kolingba and David Dacko, who both admitted having made political mistakes. Bozize also told the delegates that their recommendations would be seriously considered, unlike the case with three previous conferences. "This dialogue will not be a bracket that we opened and closed immediately," he said. Following divisions among the delegates on the implementation of the recommendations, a team was set up on Monday to propose the type of follow-up structure to be established. The plenary sessions of the talks end on Wednesday. The official closing ceremony will take place on a date to be fixed.