Central African Republic rebels welcome regional summit proposals

The extraordinary summit of the leaders of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) came up with "constructive proposals" for Central African Republic, the Seleka rebel coalition said Thursday.Seleka spokesman Eric Massi made the comments to Xinhua on telephone one day after the summit was held in the Chadian capital N'Djamena to discuss the crisis in Central African Republic.The CEEAC leaders proposed an inclusive council be formed to govern a transition period of at least 18 months."It is a proposal that will help merge legality and reality, and which will enable Central African Republic to resume its position in the CEEAC, the African Union (AU) and the international community," the Seleka spokesman told Xinhua on phone from Paris, where he lives.At the initiative of Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, who is the current chairman of CEEAC, an extraordinary summit on the crisis in Central African Republic after Seleka seized power by force last month.It brought together three other regional presidents including the Republic of Congo's Denis Sassou Nguesso, Equatorial Guinea's Teodore Obiang Nguema and Gabon's Ali Bongo Ondimba.South African President Jacob Zuma and Beninese President Boni Yayi, whose countries are not members of CEEAC, also attended the summit.The meeting condemned the takeover of power by the Seleka coalition and asked its leader Michel Am Nondokro Djotodia to respect the peace agreements signed in Libreville on Jan. 11."Under the current circumstances, it is very difficult for us to recognize a man who declared himself as the president. We believe that Central African Republic should move forward with the Libreville agreements. In this regard, there is a consensus prime minister," the Chadian president told reporters."It is normal for CEEAC, AU and the international community to condemn the takeover of power. We believe that they made a constructive proposal which will help to validate the existing institutions in Bangui, meaning the legitimization of Djotodia's power," the Seleka spokesman said.He urged all Central African Republic citizens to live together peacefully so that democratic, free and transparent elections could be organized."Seleka has always remained open to inclusiveness so that we can resolve the challenges we are confronted with," Massi said.