China hopes Central African Republic will have new leaders soon

China hopes the Central African Republic will have new interim leaders at an early date, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday.

Interim President of Central African Republic Michel Djotodia and Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye resigned on Friday during a two-day regional summit held in Chad.

"China is following closely the developments of the situation in the country, and hopes its new transitional authority can come into being smoothly at an early date," Hua said at a daily news briefing.

"We hope all the political factions could proceed from the nation's and the people's fundamental interests, committed to improving security in the country and maintaining social stability and national unity," Hua said.

China is ready to work with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the international community to help the country to realize peace, security and development, and providing assistance within its own capacity, the spokeswoman added.

The United Nations' special representative to the country, Babacar Gaye, appealed to the population "to maintain calm and show maturity following the resignations."

Djotodia came to power in March 2013 after toppling former President Francois Bozize. Although the ECCAS accepted an 18-month transition under Djotodia, the new government has been grappling with clashes between members of the Muslim-dominated Seleka and pro-Bozize Christians.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in the crisis and 1.6 million others displaced.

In early December, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of French and African troops to restore order in Bangui, where more than 1,000 people were killed in December, sparking fears of another genocide in Africa after the 1994 Rwanda massacre.