Al Jazeera English - News - Comoros Requests Bacar Handover

UPDATED ON:
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008
14:14 MECCA TIME, 11:14 GMT

NEWS AFRICA





Comoros requests Bacar handover

Bacar is said to have fled by speedboat to nearby Mayotte island, which is under French rule [AFP]

The Comoros government is calling on France to hand over a deposed rebel leader for trial, but the former colonial power says it is considering granting him asylum.

A Comoros government spokesman said that Colonel Mohamed Bacar had fled by speedboat to nearby Mayotte island, which is under French rule.

The spokesman called on France to return Bacar before the government goes to the Hague-based International Criminal Court, saying on Thursday that "Mohamed Bacar must answer for his crime in a court of law".

In Paris, the ministry that manages France's overseas territories confirmed on Thursday that Bacar is now on Mayotte, 60km from Anjouan, and said France is considering his request for political asylum.

The French ministry said it had no further information that it could make public on the situation.

Transitional government

Comoros government troops, backed by African Union forces and with logistical help from

France

, ousted from the capital of one of the archipelago's three main islands this week.

Bacar had claimed the presidency of Anjouan island and spoken of seeking independence.

The federal government had refused to recognise Bacar's re-election as the island's president last June and vowed to remove him.

Comoros factfile

The Indian archipelago nation consists of three islands: Grand Comore, Moheli and Anjouan

Each island has its own president and administrative authorities

The Union of Comoros central government is led by President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi

Anjouan is home to about 300,000 of the archipelago's 700,000 population

The country has seen 19 coups or attempted coups since independence from France in 1975

Bacar seized power in Anjouan - one of three islands in the Comoros federation - in 2001 and was confirmed in office by an election in 2002.

In 2007, the French-trained officer staged another election to confirm his re-election, but the vote was rejected as illegal by both the Comoros federal government and the AU.

However, Bacar and a force of several hundred armed police continued to control the island until Tuesday, when an estimated 1,400 AU and Comoros invaded the island to re-establish federal rule.

At least 11 people were wounded in the fighting as some Bacar loyalists took on the AU forces.

Tanzanian, Sudanese, and Comoran troops were reportedly greeted with cheers from the local population when they landed before dawn on Tuesday and there was only light resistance from Bacar's forces.

Ikililou Dhoinine, the Comoros vice-president was on Anjouan and would head a central government delegation until a transitional government could be put in place, Ali Mmadi, a cabinet minister, said.

"This transitional government will be set up by week's end," Abdourahim Said Bakar, a government spokesman, said.

The invasion of the archipelago was supported by both former colonial power France - which helped airlift AU troops to the islands - and the US.

Since independence in 1975, Comoros has had 19 coups and attempted coups.

Source: Agencies

Related:
	Troops 'retake' Comoros island (25 Mar 2008)
	Troops head for Comoros island (24 Mar 2008)
	Comoros prepares Anjouan invasion (21 Mar 2008)

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