Comoros - President claims power over island

(10 Sep 1997) T/I: 10:15:20 GS 10:39:07 Comoran President Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim on Tuesday (09/09) claimed total power over the tiny Indian Ocean archipelago. But his announcement was ignored on the island of Anjouan, where separatist forces last week defeated government troops, and separatist spokesman Mohamed Abdou Madi again declared independence. Speaking on national radio, Abdoulkarim said he had to take total power. SHOWS: MATSAMUDU, COMOROS. 9/09 Comoran President Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim speaking in French: "Our constitution has scheduled something in the law if the constitution of the Republic would be interrupted (in article 20). And that's the case today. I had to take total power. we had to contact the Prime minister, the president of the assembly and the president of the High Court, which has been done. Tomorrow, I will set up a commission to deal with the current State affairs. We are trying to put back a government of national unity. I've authorized the army to go over there (island of Anjouan), not to fight but to restaure the individual liberties and to restaure the state as it was before. The army came there and after 24 hours they have reestablished the situation. But the day after they have been attacked." WS President with reporter; 2.02 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...