By Paul-Marin Ngoupana BANGUI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - A Central African Republic rebel group pulled out of a peace process aimed at ending years of conflict on Saturday, saying the government was hijacking the drafting of a post-conflict amnesty law. The Popular Army for the Restoration of the Republic and Democracy (APRD), whose fighters operate in the northwest of the country, was one of two movements that signed a peace deal with the government in June. A national dialogue is now meant to bring together the rebels, civil society, opposition politicians and the government to end years of war and chaos that have left the Central African Republic one of the least developed countries in the world. "The APRD has decided to suspend its participation in the process which should end in the all-inclusive political dialogue," a rebel statement said. APDR president Jean-Jaques Demafouth, who lives in France, said the government had abused its trust over the amnesty offered to those involved in the conflict. He said the government was not allowing all parties to take part in drafting the amnesty and wanted to offer it only to the presidential guard for acts committed after March 15, 2003. "We will never accept that," he said. The political process could only work if there was a general amnesty and the release of all detained APRD members, he said. Under the deal, rebels could also choose to join the army or become civilians. The amnesty does not cover war crimes. Demafouth also said his movement was being sidelined from the organisation of the dialogue. The APRD and another rebel group in the northeast launched their uprisings soon after current President Francois Bozize overthrew President Ange-Felix Patasse in 2003. The country has seen 11 attempted coups or mutinies in the past decade. The current peace process, coupled with new donor interest and the arrival of investors looking to tap into its uranium, gold and diamond mines, has offered some hope. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com) (Writing by David Lewis; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
An internally displaced man rests between mosquito nets at the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital in Markunda in the Central African Republic, July 7, 2008. Sparsely-populated Central African Republic, one of ...
