Talks to restore peace to battered CAR begin

LIBREVILLE: Three-way peace talks between the Central African Republic government, a rebel coalition that has conquered much of the country over the past month and the political opposition began yesterday in Gabon.

The talks, brokered by regional bloc the Economic Community of Central African States, will focus on renegotiat- ing peace agreements signed by Bangui since 2007, which rebels say have been violated, prompting them to unite and launch a major offensive.

The delegation representing the Seleka rebel coalition arrived more than two hours late at the talks taking place in the Gabonese capital Libreville.

The group – an umbrella of various rebel factions that cut deals with the government in recent years – launched an offensive last month and took over most of the CAR, a poor country of five million roughly the size of France.

Rebels moved towards Bangui but stopped nearly 160km from the capital after regional powers sent troops to bolster President Francois Bozize’s embattled army.

“I am asking all parties, especially the opposition and armed groups, to abide by the decision heads of state made in N’Djamena and focus on the 2008 Libreville accords,” talks chairman, Congolese Foreign Minister Basile Ikouebe said.

The rebels want Bozize to step down but the president says he will not leave. – SapaAFP