AU to open office in Bangui, official says

The African Union (AU), the continent's foremost political body, will open an office in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), depending on "positive" developments during the ongoing transitional process in the country, an AU official said on Tuesday. "We have been following the positive evolution of the ongoing transitional process and the decision to open it [the office] will largely depend on that," Alpha Omar Konare, the chairman of the AU Commission, said in a interview with state-owned Radio Centrafrique. He was in Bangui for a three-hour visit during which he met ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and CAR leader Francois Bozize. The AU was among the first organisations to condemn the 15 March 2003 coup in the CAR that brought Bozize to power. However, with the support of the EC, the AU later announced it would open an office in Bangui to support peace and facilitate the return to a democratic rule. Faddock Fayala from Tunisia was appointed AU's special envoy for CAR. Konare said the primary goal of his visit was to get information from Aristide about his next move. Aristide's presence in Africa calls upon the AU to make the inquiry, Konare added. Konare said the AU was not supporting an individual but rather the principle of democracy. He said he would meet US, French and UN and officials to learn more about the circumstances of Aristide's departure from Haiti to the CAR. Meanwhile, a South African delegation arrived in Bangui on Tuesday and met with Bozize in connection with Aristide. The French news agency, AFP, reported on Wednesday that the delegation. led by Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad, was in Bangui to hold talks with Aristide after Pretoria said it was open to offering the Haitian leader exile.