<< Ivorian ex-president's party eschews transition governmen
ABIDJAN, Jan 5 (AFP) - Cote d'Ivoire's ousted president Henri Konan Bedie
is "on leave" and his Democratic Party (PDCI) does not want to be
represented
in a transition government, a party official said Wednesday.
Jean Konan Banny, head of the party's crisis committee, told a press
conference that Bedie, overthrown in a December 24 coup, "finds himself on
the
outside and cannot continue to effectively exercise the prerogatives of
(PDCI)
leader."
"As a consequence, he is on leave," Banny said.
In addition, "none of those who were called to his government has come to
us to seek our refusal or support, and we can affirm that we have no one in
the government," Banny said.
The junta unveiled a government on Tuesday that included three members it
said had links to the PDCI.
The PDCI had refused to offer a list of potential ministers sought by the
junta from among the country's main political parties. The party instead
asked
the junta to select members from PDCI ranks.
The PDCI has been in power in Cote d'Ivoire since independence from
France
almost 40 years ago.
Bedie fled the Cote d'Ivoire via Togo and arrived in France on Monday.
The junta briefly detained PDCI Secretary General Laurent Dona Fologo,
who
has yet to resume his functions.
Banny said the party would hold an extraordinary session but did not say
when.
Junta leader General Robert Guei named the transitional government on
Tuesday, with the top posts in what is known as the National Committee of
Public Salvation (CNSP) awarded to members of the junta.
Guei himself took the defence portfolio, and the number two in the junta,
General Lassana Palenfo, was named security minister, while third in command
General Abdoulaye Coulibaly, will take charge of transport and
infrastructure.
Colonel Issa Diakite was named interior and decentralisation minister and
the military's final post is the youth and sport ministry, given to Colonel
Mathias Doue.
A career diplomat, Christophe M'Boua, will be foreign minister.
The opposition Rally for Democracy (RDR) of Alassane Ouattara was given
three ministries -- economy and finance; the ministry covering culture and
relations with the French-speaking world and the construction and
environment
job.
Another five portfolios were given to the socialist Ivorian Popular Front
(FPI).
However late Tuesday FPI leader Laurent Gbagbo said his party would not
paricipate in an "RDR government."
The four ministers named from the FPI did not show up for a first cabinet
meeting, which began at around noon (1200 GMT) Tuesday more than an hour
behind schedule.
The meeting was delayed by last-minute discussions between an FPI
delegation and the junta.
fp-me/sa/gd/nb
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