{{Central African Republic’s self-declared president will hold elections within 18 months despite initially saying that he would rule until 2016, a spokesman said Thursday.}}<\/p>\n
Michel Djotodia’s overthrow of the government nearly two weeks ago forced Francois Bozize, the country’s president of a decade, into exile and prompted fierce criticism from the United States, African Union and others.<\/p>\n
A regional summit on Wednesday in neighboring Chad urged Djotodia to organize democratic elections within 18 months, and to establish a council that would lead the turbulent country during a transitional period until elections can be held.<\/p>\n
“Djotodia has accepted the recommendations,” government spokesman Crepin Mboli-Goumba said Thursday, following meetings between Djotodia and the foreign ministers from other countries in the region.<\/p>\n
Djotodia had dispatched his prime minister Nicolas Tiangaye to attend this week’s summit in Chad. <\/p>\n
The African Union has suspended Central African Republic’s membership following the seizure of power and Djotodia faces AU travel restrictions.<\/p>\n
He has now agreed to the establishment of an interim leadership council, Mboli-Goumba said, though Djotodia himself could still seek the presidency under that arrangement. The process of setting up the transitional body is now underway, Mboli-Goumba said.<\/p>\n
Djotodia’s rebel fighters seized control of the capital of Bangui on March 24, overthrowing Bozize, who had himself taken power after a rebellion a decade ago.<\/p>\n
Djotodia first rose to prominence as a rebel leader in 2006 and was an integral part of the formation of Seleka, an alliance of several groups that joined together last December in an effort to oust Bozize.<\/p>\n
The rebels first threatened to attack the capital back in January but later signed a peace agreement that created a government of national unity. <\/p>\n
Under that deal, Bozize was to finish his term in 2016 and Djotodia was to serve as defense minister. Tiangaye, a longtime opposition figure, became prime minister.<\/p>\n
However, the deal swiftly unraveled amid allegations of broken promises by Bozize, and thousands of armed fighters invaded Bangui in an assault that also left 13 South African soldiers dead.<\/p>\n
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