Central African Rebels expect open negotiations' in Libreville

A member of the delegation of the Central African rebels to the Libreville peace talks with the government, Christophe Gazam Betty, says he expects "open negotiations". Betty said on Thursday, ''We

expect open talks without any ''pre-condition" about the departure of President Francois Bozizé.''
''What is at stake for us is to quickly put in place a solid team in Bangui capable of implementing a 'Marshal plan' for the Central African Republic with the support of the international community.
''We must avoid a generation of Central Africans taking the country hostage," Betty, who represents the Convention of Patriots for Peace and Justice (CPJP) within the umbrella Séléka rebels, told PANA over the phone at the start of the talks.
According to him, without waiting for the end of the talks in Libreville, they must restore national cohesion in the country, badly damaged by the confusion between rebels and Muslims.
''Part of the national community has been demonised since the beginning of the rebellion. We must quickly mend the strained relations with our Central African Muslim friends. ''What is important is for all to get together to give a shot in the arm to the Central African Republic," Betty, who heads CPJP's political and diplomatic affairs unit, added.
Delegations of the government, the rebels and the opposition have arrived in Libreville for the talks under the aegis of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEAC). The international community has been repeating calls urging rebels and the government to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
''Negotiations are more than ever necessary. Parties are requested to respond without delay to the invitation of the Economic Community of Central African states to start the peace parleys planned in Libreville," the French ministry of foreign affairs said late last week.
The Francophonie International Organisation (OIF) also encouraged the holding without delay of a political dialogue that takes into account elements likely to guarantee sustainable peace and enhanced democracy in the Central African Republic.
The rebels' march towards Bangui, the Central African capital, was halted in Damarra, some 75 km from the city. Nearly 400 South African soldiers have arrived in Central African Republic while France has increased the number of its soldiers in the country to more than 500. (PANA/NAN)