RPF interim gov't to step down next year - Kagame

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has ruled out an extension of the term of his Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) interim administration, due to expire next year, the Rwanda News Agency (RNA) reported on Thursday.

"I would like to disassociate myself from any idea that there will be an extension of the transition. It has not been a subject of any discussion to which I have been party," Kagame was quoted by RNA as saying at a recent press conference. "I do not know where you got that information from," he told one journalist. "I had not heard about it until I read your paper. It seems there are other governments around here that discuss the matter, but not the government for which I am president."

Meanwhile, on Sunday 14 April, the Legal and Constitutional Commission (LCC) will hold consultations on Rwanda's draft constitution with the "Forum des Partis Politiques agrees au Rwanda", the umbrella organisation for all political parties officially registered in Rwanda. The National Assembly elected the LCC to tour the country to solicit the views of the population on issues they felt should be included in the constitution.

"The political parties, as well as other Rwandan civil society organisations, have a major role to play in the drafting of a constitution in which all Rwandans are accounted for," Tito Rutaremara, president of the LCC, was quoted as telling RNA.

According to RNA, political parties are not involved in the preparation and organisation of grass-roots elections in Rwanda. Candidates present themselves on the basis of personal merits and not on that of their political party.

Since 1994 the RPF, as well as the other parties in the multiparty government, have agreed not to engage in political activities at the local level during the current period of transition to a new national government. Six political parties are represented in the Government of National Unity of the Republic of Rwanda: RPF, Rwanda Democratic Movement (MDR), the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Liberal Party (PL), the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and the Islamic Democratic Party (PDI).

According to the Rwandan government, once the draft constitution has been completed, it will be put before the people of Rwanda in a referendum. Once approved, a general election for president and members of parliament will take place. It is expected that these elections will take place at the end of 2003. The government of national unity will administer the affairs of the state until a new constitution has been written and parliamentary and presidential elections are held.

For further information on Rwanda's constitutional review, go to: http://www.cjcr.gov.rw/