Central African coup leader forms transitional council

Central African Republic's self-proclaimed president Michel Djotodia on Saturday ordered the formation of a transitional council that will be in charge of appointing a new head of state and drafting a constitution. The council comprises 97 members, including 10 members from the Seleka rebel coalition and 20 members from other political parties. The rest slots will filled with persons from religion, labor and justice sectors. The move is in line with the proposal of the six-nation Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), that called for setting up a council that will play an executive role and a constituent assembly for a transitional period that should not go beyond 18 months at the bloc's recent summit in the Chadian capital of N'Djamena. Like the rest of the international community, the ECCAS leaders condemned Seleka rebel leader Djotodia, who declared himself the president of the republic. They urged him to respect the Libreville peace agreements signed on Jan. 11. Michel Djotodia, leader of the Seleka rebel coalition who declared himself president after overthrowing the regime of Francois Bozize on March 24, announced a transition period of three years, during which he will rule by decree.