CAR government resigns

2008-01-19 17:18

Bangui - Central African Republic Prime Minister Elie Dote tendered his resignation and that of his government on Friday, a spokesperson for President Francois Bozize told national television.

"The president has just received and accepted the resignation of the prime minister and of all his government. According to the prime minister the resignation was in order to preserve social peace, cohesion and national harmony," spokesman Cyriaque Gonda said.

A statement from the presidency on Monday "will spell out the conditions in which the continuity of state services will be maintained," Gonda added.

A majority of lawmakers filed a censure motion on Thursday against Dote's government in the National Assembly. The measure is expected to be examined on Saturday.

Dote's resignation came amid a social crisis gripping the country, marked by government disruptions and near-paralysis in public schools due to a civil servant strike over salaries launched earlier this month.

A former economist, Dote has been the country's prime minister since June 2005.

- SAPA