24 apply to rule in restive country

BANGUI, Central African Republic - Officials in Central African Republic said 24 people have submitted candidacies to temporarily govern the volatile nation.

Ferdinand Mande-Djapou said the national transitional council would determine the eligibility of candidates before voting Monday for an interim president.

Central African Republic has a history of coups and dictatorship. A rebel leader who seized power last year stepped down a week ago as international criticism mounted over his inability to halt killings that some warned could explode into genocide.

More than 1,000 people were killed in December alone, and nearly 1 million people fled their homes as Christian militias retaliated against the mostly Muslim rebels who had taken over the government.

There are fears of renewed conflict once the interim leader is named.

Front Section, Pages 9 on 01/19/2014

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