Central African President Francois Bozize on Saturday sacked his prime minister to comply with the terms of a ceasefire deal reached with a rebel coalition during talks in Libreville.

Faustin Archange Touadera was dismissed as prime minister in a decree read out on public radio and should be replaced by a member of the opposition.

The new prime minister was expected to be appointed later Saturday, according to opposition sources here.

They said a possible candidate could be lawyer Nicolas Tiangaye, who led the opposition's delegation to the Libreville peace talks. But another opposition lawyer, Henri Pouzere, was also in the running.

The appointment, to be followed by the formation of a national unity government, is the first political step in a process laid down by the accord signed in Libreville on Friday by the ruling group, the Seleka rebels and the democratic opposition after three days of tough negotiations.

The agreement also called for an immediate ceasefire and a one-year transition period before general elections are held. Bozize remains in power despite calls by the rebels for his departure.