Foreign minister holds meeting with Patasse in Lome

The Central African Republic foreign minister, Karim Meckassoua, held a meeting on Monday with former President Ange-Felix Patasse in Lome, the capital of Togo, Radio France Internationale reported. The radio reported on Tuesday that Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema attended the meeting, whose agenda was not made public. The meeting was the first between Patasse and an official of the administration of Francois Bozize, who overthrew Patasse on 15 March. Patasse, who has been in exile in Togo since 20 March, has previously announced that he would form a rebel movement to remove Bozize from power. Bozize omitted Patasse's name in a decree establishing the National Transitional Council, a law advisory body in which former heads of state are taking part as honorary members. However, Patasse's former ruling party, the Mouvement de liberation du peuple centrafricain, is represented in the council.