Bozize appoints electoral team

Central African Republic leader Francois Bozize has appointed members of the Mixed Independent Electoral Commission, which will supervise presidential and parliamentary polls due to be held in early 2005, state-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Tuesday.

Bozize signed a decree on Monday, appointing the 30 commissioners.

They include 10 representatives of political parties, among them Benoit Likiti who contested presidency in 1993; 10 from civil society, including René Sakanga-Morouba, a labour unionist and Albert Baba-Toungoumale, a monk; and 10 from the administration, who include Job Izima, the secretary-general in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the setting up of the commission in early April, the government had announced that it would comprise 45 to 60 members.

The radio reported that the newly appointed commissioners would be sworn in before the Court of First Instance in Bangui, the capital, before they begin their duties.

Bozize seized power on 15 March 2003 when he ousted President Ange-Felix Patasse. He announced soon thereafter that he would not contest the presidency when the transitional period ended.

The international donor community, particularly the EU, has pegged financial aid to CAR on the holding of transparent elections and has urged Bozize to keep to the transitional calendar announced early 2004.