By Paul-Marin Ngoupana BANGUI, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Central African Republic's major rebel groups and a group of opposition parties have walked out of talks meant to end years of bloodshed and instability in one of the poorest countries on earth. After the main rebel group walked out on Saturday, the other main political and rebel factions also quit preparations for a national political dialogue in protest over an amnesty they said was designed only to protect President Francois Bozize's men. Bozize overthrew President Ange-Felix Patasse in 2003 and his fighters are accused of wide-ranging abuses against civilians both during his uprising and during years of sporadic civil conflict that have followed. The thinly-populated former French colony has seen 11 attempted coups or mutinies in the past decade. Foreign interest has grown because of its proximity to high-profile conflicts in Sudan and Uganda and the expected start of uranium mining in 2010 by French state-owned nuclear specialist Areva <CERFi.PA>. Laws presented to the National Assembly on Friday would offer amnesty for offences by both government and rebel forces since Patasse's overthrow in March 2003, and for abuses by Bozize's forces leading up to Patasse's overthrow. But the laws appeared not to specifically cover crimes before that date by Bozize's enemies, including rebel leaders Jean-Jacques Demafouth and Abdoulaye Miskine, and Patasse himself, all of whom are subject to current legal action. "MADE TO MEASURE" "The authorities in Bangui are not playing straight. The amnesties currently before the National Assembly are made to measure," said Zakaria Damane, spokesman for the three rebel groups who have quit the talks. Damane's Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) and the Democratic Front for the Central African People (FDPC) on Sunday followed the larger Popular Army for the Restoration fo the Republic and Democracy (APRD), which quit the talks on Saturday. A coalition of five opposition parties joined the walkout. "The amnesty should extend to all the politico-military groups in this country without exception, and cover deeds ... committed before March 15, 2003," said coalition spokesman Henri Pouzere. He urged the National Assembly to reject the laws. The APRD launched its northwestern rebellion soon after Bozize took power and have waged a sporadic campaign against Bozize's army and presidential guard in a conflict that has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. The UFDR later launched its own uprising in the remote northeast of the country, near the border with Sudan's Darfur region, and occupied Birao and other towns in the area before being forced out by government troops helped by French forces. APRD president Jean-Jaques Demafouth, who lives in France, accused the government at the weekend of abusing its trust over the amnesty and said talks could only work if there was a general amnesty and detained APRD members were freed. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com) (Editing by Alistair Thomson and Andrew Roche)
Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir waves to supporters during a tour of Al-ginana, East Darfur, July 24, 2008. Bashir, in a show of defiance, made his first visit to Darfur as ...
