Last major CAR rebel group joins peace process

By Paul-Marin Ngoupana

BANGUI (Reuters) - The Central African Republic's government has signed a ceasefire accord with the last major rebel group to join a national peace process aimed at ending years of instability, officials said on Saturday.

Government envoys signed the accord on Friday in Libreville, Gabon, with the Popular Army for the Restoration of the Republic and Democracy (APRD), whose bush fighters operate in Central African Republic's northwest bordering Cameroon and Chad.

President Francois Bozize, who seized power in 2003 and won elections two years later, signed peace pacts with two other rebel groups last year and is promoting a political dialogue aimed at reuniting the poor, violence-torn former French colony.

The APRD had initially stayed out of the reconciliation process, but later sent mediators to talk to Bozize.

Communications Minister Cyriaque Gonda, who led the government delegation to the signing in Libreville, said the peace accord foresaw an immediate ceasefire.

APRD rebel fighters would remain in their northwest bases, pending their future integration into the national army, and the authorities would suspend all legal action against them.

"This agreement opens the way for us to be able to immediately start organising an inclusive political dialogue in the coming months," Gonda said in comments cited on Saturday by the Central African Republic's state media.