US urges inclusive process to select new leaders of CAR

The United States called for a transparent and inclusive process to pick new leaders in Central African Republic (CAR), the State Department said on Wednesday. Washington encourages CAR's National Council of Transition to select leaders of integrity who can restore stability to the country through a process that includes "a full range of political, religious, and civil society representatives," said spokeswoman Marie Harf in a statement. CAR's interim President Michel Djotodia and Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye resigned on Friday following months of violence that has killed more than 3,000 people and displaced 1.6 million others in the chaotic African country. Under the country's charter, CAR's National Council of Transition has 15 days to choose a new interim president to replace Djotodia. The United States also called on the Council to be consistent with provisions of the Transitional Charter and the Libreville Agreements, which call for the prime minister to come from the democratic opposition, Harf said. Washington commends the leadership of the Economic Community of Central African States in facilitating the political transition process in CAR, Harf added. CAR has been thrown into turmoil since Djotodia's Seleka rebels launched attacks in December 2012 and overthrew former President Francois Bozize, a Christian, in March 2013.