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Central African Republic crisis: Djotodia future in balance | Central African Republic crisis: Djotodia future in balance |
(35 minutes later) | |
Central African Republic (CAR) interim leader Michel Djotodia is expected to face pressure to step down when he attends a regional summit on Thursday. | Central African Republic (CAR) interim leader Michel Djotodia is expected to face pressure to step down when he attends a regional summit on Thursday. |
His failure to quell violence between Christian and Muslim militias has prompted speculation that he may quit. | His failure to quell violence between Christian and Muslim militias has prompted speculation that he may quit. |
However, CAR officials say his resignation is not on the agenda at the Ceeac summit in neighbouring Chad. | However, CAR officials say his resignation is not on the agenda at the Ceeac summit in neighbouring Chad. |
Seleka rebels staged a coup last March, installing Mr Djotodia as the country's first Muslim leader. | Seleka rebels staged a coup last March, installing Mr Djotodia as the country's first Muslim leader. |
The then-President Francois Bozize, from CAR's majority Christian population, was forced into exile and the country has since descended into chaos. | The then-President Francois Bozize, from CAR's majority Christian population, was forced into exile and the country has since descended into chaos. |
The UN has warned of an impending humanitarian disaster. | The UN has warned of an impending humanitarian disaster. |
'Make way' | 'Make way' |
Ahmat Allami, secretary general of Ceeac (the Economic Community of Central African States), said the group would tell Mr Djotodia that his transitional government was not working. | Ahmat Allami, secretary general of Ceeac (the Economic Community of Central African States), said the group would tell Mr Djotodia that his transitional government was not working. |
"If you are incapable, if you are powerless in the face of the situation, make way for others who can do a better job," Mr Allami said in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena. | "If you are incapable, if you are powerless in the face of the situation, make way for others who can do a better job," Mr Allami said in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena. |
"It may happen that Ceeac... cannot continue to support the transition." | "It may happen that Ceeac... cannot continue to support the transition." |
However, he added that "regime change" was not the goal of the meeting. | However, he added that "regime change" was not the goal of the meeting. |
A source close to Mr Djotodia quoted by the Reuters news agency said that CAR leaders had run out of patience with him. | A source close to Mr Djotodia quoted by the Reuters news agency said that CAR leaders had run out of patience with him. |
"It's finished for him now," said the source. | "It's finished for him now," said the source. |
However, his spokesman told the BBC he would not be stepping down. | |
The BBC's Paul Wood in Bangui says that if he does resign, the effects would be unpredictable - it could take the steam out of the conflict, or trigger a power struggle engulfing the country in its worst violence yet. | |
French officials also quoted by Reuters said the summit would discuss various options for continuing the transition, including allowing the president of a National Transitional Council to take over or mandating Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye to run the country until elections. | French officials also quoted by Reuters said the summit would discuss various options for continuing the transition, including allowing the president of a National Transitional Council to take over or mandating Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye to run the country until elections. |
Although Mr Djotodia has officially disbanded the Seleka rebels, he has proved unable to keep them in check. | Although Mr Djotodia has officially disbanded the Seleka rebels, he has proved unable to keep them in check. |
Their brutal actions have prompted Christians to form vigilante groups, sparking a deadly cycle of revenge attacks. | Their brutal actions have prompted Christians to form vigilante groups, sparking a deadly cycle of revenge attacks. |
More than 1,000 people have died in the past month alone and the number displaced has more than doubled, to nearly a million. | More than 1,000 people have died in the past month alone and the number displaced has more than doubled, to nearly a million. |
On Wednesday, the UN warned that measles had broken out at the airport in the capital, Bangui, where about 100,000 people are seeking refuge from clashes. | On Wednesday, the UN warned that measles had broken out at the airport in the capital, Bangui, where about 100,000 people are seeking refuge from clashes. |
France has deployed 1,600 troops to try to end the violence and the African Union also has some 4,000 peacekeepers in the country. | France has deployed 1,600 troops to try to end the violence and the African Union also has some 4,000 peacekeepers in the country. |
The UN says about half the population of Bangui - more than 500,000 people - have been driven from their homes and 2.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. | The UN says about half the population of Bangui - more than 500,000 people - have been driven from their homes and 2.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. |