<<  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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