CAR INTERIM PRESIDENT RESIGNS

N’Djamena, Chad, 9 Rabi’ul Awwal 1435/11 January 2014 (MINA) – Central African Republic’s interim President Michel Djotodia has resigned, according to a statement issued after a two-day summit in neighbouring Chad.

The announcement was made Friday by Ahmat Allami, the secretary-general of the regional bloc of Central African states, Al Jazeera quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Talks to decide a new leadership will take place in Bangui, Central African Republic’s capital, at a later date, the statement said.

Regional leaders had put pressure on Djotodia to step down after he failed to halt months of inter-religious violence that has forced 1 million people from their homes.

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Rebel leader Michel Djotodia seized power in a March 2013 coup when thousands of his fighters stormed the capital. He was later installed as president while longtime opposition leader Nicolas Tiangaye became prime minister.

Previous, Central African Republic’s entire parliament has flown to Chad after being summoned by African leaders holding a special summit aimed at restoring peace in the restive country.

All 135 members gathered on Thursday in the Chadian capital N’Djamena, where they are expected to discuss the fate of rebel-turned-president Michel Djotodia, who is under fire for failing to prevent sectarian violence in the CAR

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Chad’s President Idriss Deby, a powerful influence over events in the CAR, opened the meeting with a call for “concrete and decisive action” to halt the sectarian violence that has killed more than 1,000 people in the past month. (T/P09/E1).

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).