The former president of the Central African Republic, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, has been formally rehabilitated by presidential decree.

President Francois Bozize published the decree as part of the country's 50th anniversary of independence, returning Bokassa "all his rights".

Bokassa was overthrown in 1979 after 14 years in power and died in 1996.

He was variously accused of being a cannibal and feeding opponents to lions and crocodiles in his personal zoo....