US. welcomes Central African Republic interim president Samba-Panza

The U.S. welcomes the selection of Catherine Samba-Panza as the transitional president of the Central African Republic (CAR), Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday. The U.S. supports the new leader and calls on the people of CAR to work constructively with her, participate in the political process, and avoid any resurgence in violence, Kerry said in a statement. As the first woman head of state since CAR's independence, Samba-Panza has a "unique opportunity" to advance the political transition process and bring all parties together to end the violence, the top U.S. envoy added. Samba-Panza, the mayor of CAR's capital Bangui, was elected on Monday by the National Transition Council (CNT), or the transitional parliament, 10 days after the resignation of the former transition president, Michel Djotodia. Djotodia and Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye resigned earlier this month following months of violence that has killed more than 3,000 people and displaced 1.6 million others in the chaotic African country.