/ 4 May 1999

“MIXED” GOVT FOR COMORES

COMORAN strongman Azali Assoumani plans a mixed civilian-military government, without party politicians, informed sources said on Monday. The army chief of staff seized power in a bloodless putsch on Friday. In the next few days, Azali plans to bring together the delegates who, in Antananarivo on April 23, signed an accord on broad autonomy for each of the three islands of the Indian Ocean chain, the sources said. Azali says he will remain at the head of the government until the institution of the Union of Comoran Islands foreseen under the Antananarivo plan — a rotating presidency, a national assembly elected half by popular vote and half by the islands, and broad autonomy for each of the three islands. The capital remained calm Monday, with no celebration of the putsch, nor overt opposition to it.