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CAR interim President Michel Djotodia resigns | CAR interim President Michel Djotodia resigns |
(35 minutes later) | |
Central Africa Republic's interim President Michel Djotodia has resigned at a regional summit aimed at ending violence that has engulfed the country. | Central Africa Republic's interim President Michel Djotodia has resigned at a regional summit aimed at ending violence that has engulfed the country. |
CAR's entire transitional assembly is attending the meeting in Chad, organised by regional leaders. | |
PM Nicolas Tiengaye has also resigned. | |
Mr Djotodia, CAR's first Muslim leader, seized power last year. Since then 20% of the population have fled their homes amid fighting between Christian and Muslim militias. | |
The UN has warned of an impending humanitarian disaster. | The UN has warned of an impending humanitarian disaster. |
Since December and the arrival of more regional peacekeepers and French troops, 1,000 people have died in sectarian clashes. | Since December and the arrival of more regional peacekeepers and French troops, 1,000 people have died in sectarian clashes. |
Many villages are deserted and in the past month the number of those who have fled their homes has doubled - including almost half of those living in the capital, Bangui. | |
Following the announcement from Chad, there were jubilant scenes in Bangui. | |
Carine Gbegbe, who has been living in a displacement camp, told Associated Press: "Finally we are free. We are going to return home at last." | |
French tanks were quickly deployed around the presidential palace. | |
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called for a replacement for Mr Djotodia "as soon as possible". | |
Flown in | |
Mr Djotodia's resignation was made in a statement by the 10-nation Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas). | Mr Djotodia's resignation was made in a statement by the 10-nation Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas). |
Members of CAR's National Transitional Council (CNT) had been flown in at short notice to decide the leadership of their nation. | |
The lawmakers met regional leaders while Mr Djotodia held separate talks with allies from his former Seleka rebel alliance, AFP reported. | The lawmakers met regional leaders while Mr Djotodia held separate talks with allies from his former Seleka rebel alliance, AFP reported. |
Under a deal brokered by regional powers last year, the CNT was charged with choosing a transitional leader to take CAR to elections due at the end of 2014. It formally elected Mr Djotodia to his position as interim president last April. | Under a deal brokered by regional powers last year, the CNT was charged with choosing a transitional leader to take CAR to elections due at the end of 2014. It formally elected Mr Djotodia to his position as interim president last April. |
Seleka seized power last March overthrowing the then-President Francois Bozize, from CAR's majority Christian population. | Seleka seized power last March overthrowing the then-President Francois Bozize, from CAR's majority Christian population. |
Although Mr Djotodia officially disbanded the Seleka rebels, he has proved unable to keep them in check. | Although Mr Djotodia officially disbanded the Seleka rebels, he has proved unable to keep them in check. |
Their actions have prompted Christians to form vigilante groups, sparking a deadly cycle of revenge attacks. | Their actions have prompted Christians to form vigilante groups, sparking a deadly cycle of revenge attacks. |
The African Union now has some 4,000 peacekeepers in the country and France has deployed 1,600 troops to try to restore peace. | The African Union now has some 4,000 peacekeepers in the country and France has deployed 1,600 troops to try to restore peace. |