Commisions to consider political platform and national army

The rebel leaders’ forum agreed that the new joint political commission would develop a common position paper for the rebel front for the inter-Congolese dialogue provided for in the Lusaka ceasefire agreement; among the issues would be power-sharing, human rights and good governance, the question of nationality, a federal system of government - whether during or after a transitional period - and the programme of an interim government, the station reported. Meanwhile, the military commission would consider the formation, character and mission of a new national army, as agreed under Lusaka, to comprise the merged government’s Forces armees congolaises (FAC) and the three rebel forces. It would also start developing social reintegration and training programmes for those soldiers who would not be absorbed into the new national army, Rwandan radio stated. The commission have been scheduled to start work on 24 January.