(Recasts, adds quotes, details) By Paul-Marin Ngoupana BANGUI, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Central African Republic President Francois Bozize will negotiate with rebel and opposition leaders the formation of a consensus government to end years of civil conflict, a mediator said on Thursday. Former Burundi President Pierre Buyoya made the announcement in the capital Bangui after chairing 10 days of talks hosted by Bozize aimed at ending multiple bush rebellions and achieving a lasting peace in the poor, landlocked African state. The pact for a consensus government to rule until the next scheduled presidential election in 2010 would be signed on Friday. It would also cement an existing ceasefire and include provisions for demobilisation and disarmament of former rebels. "After all the debates we've had, the essential point retained is the formation of a wide consensus government to conduct state affairs until the 2010 elections," Buyoya said. "In this government, all of the participating parties will be represented," he told reporters. He offered no details on how the negotiations to share out government posts between pro-Bozize loyalists, the rebels and the opposition might proceed. Those who took part in the Bangui talks included former President Ange-Felix Patasse, who was overthrown by Bozize in a 2003 coup, and the leaders of rebel movements which have operated in the northwest and northeast of the country. Bozize won a 2005 presidential election. Successive bush rebellions against him and government army counter-attacks have driven thousands of villagers from their homes in recent years in what aid officials have described as one of Africa's most "forgotten" humanitarian emergencies. Central African Republic, a former French colony bordering Sudan and Chad, remains one of the most underdeveloped nations in the world despite its diamond and uranium deposits. It has had a history of coups, revolts and unrest since independence in 1960. FOCUS ON ELECTIONS This year, Bozize's government signed ceasefires and peace deals with several northern rebel groups and promulgated a contested amnesty law to set up the talks, which were intended to thrash out a blueprint for a stable democratic future. Analysts said the fact that he and international mediators had been able to bring such a disparate group of former enemies to the negotiating table was already in itself an achievement. But it remained to be seen whether the dialogue process could successfully form a consensus government leading to elections without any attempts to use violence or seize power. Participating in the dialogue were Jean-Jacques Demafouth, leader of the Popular Army for the Restoration of the Republic and Democracy (APRD) rebel group that has operated in the northwest, and Damane Zakaria of a northeastern rebel movement, the Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR). Abakar Sabone, a former UFDR spokesman who leads a splinter group, was also present. Both Demafouth, and former Prime Minister Martin Ziguele of the main opposition Central African People's Liberation Movement (MLPC), said during the political talks that they intended to run as candidates in the 2010 presidential election. The government's amnesty covers acts committed by Patasse, Demafouth, Sabone and by the rebel fighters they have led. The International Criminal Court, which argues national amnesties do not give immunity from prosecution for war crimes, says it is investigating crimes of mass rape, torture and murder in fighting before, during and after Patasse's overthrow. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/) (Writing by Pascal Fletcher; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Three ancient statues are seen at a dig at el-Hassa, the site of a Meroitic town in Sudan in this undated handout photograph. Archaeologists said on Tuesday they had discovered three ...
