Presidential candidates sign political deal, code of conduct

Eleven presidential candidates in the Central African Republic (CAR) signed an accord on Wednesday formalising an agreement they reached in January, giving the country's electoral body control over voting and announcement of results. The candidates also signed a 10-point code of conduct, guiding them to "exercise their political activities in the strict respect of the constitution, the electoral code, the laws and the regulations in force". The candidates reached the initial agreement at a meeting in January in Libreville, capital of Gabon, which had been convened to resolve a crisis that stemmed from the invalidation of seven of the candidates by a constitutional court in the CAR capital, Bangui. Under the six-point agreement, the candidates recognise the Mixed Independent Electoral Commission, known as CEMI, as the organiser and supervisor of presidential and parliamentary elections, due to be held in March. They also recognise that the Transitional Constitutional Court as the arbiter of electoral disputes and the inaugurator of the president-elect, in accordance with provisions of the country's constitution. The code of conduct they signed is to "guide them to exercise their political activities in the strict respect of the constitution, the electoral code, the laws and the regulations in force", and to respect "the fundamental rights and public liberties, including the right to each to candidate to campaign without intimidation and without violence, without rumour or unjustified accusation". On 30 December, the Transitional Constitutional Court invalidated seven of the 12 presidential candidatures, threatening the smooth running of electoral process, which is due to end the transitional government of by CAR leader François Bozizé. Bozize ousted President Ange-Felix Patasse on 15 March 2003, after leading a six-month rebellion mainly in the northwest of the country. After the transitional court's decision, the affected candidates demanded the dissolution of the constitutional court. Later, a meeting was held in Libreville to try to resolve the issue. Upon the signing of the Libreville agreement, seven candidates were cleared to contest the presidency. Patassé was excluded on the ground that he was under investigation for several crimes. The Libreville accord also agreed to the postponement of the elections to 13 March.