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| Central African Republic factions announce ceasefire | Central African Republic factions announce ceasefire |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Rival armed groups in the Central African Republic have signed a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending over a year of religious conflict. | Rival armed groups in the Central African Republic have signed a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending over a year of religious conflict. |
| The agreement was signed in Congo-Brazzaville between mainly Muslim Seleka rebels and the largely Christian anti-Balaka militia. | |
| As part of the deal, the Seleka dropped their demand for CAR's partition. | As part of the deal, the Seleka dropped their demand for CAR's partition. |
| Thousands of people have been killed and almost a quarter of the 4.6 million population forced from their homes. | |
| Muslims have been forced to flee the capital city and most of the west of the country, in what rights groups described as ethnic cleansing. | Muslims have been forced to flee the capital city and most of the west of the country, in what rights groups described as ethnic cleansing. |
| Both sides have been accused of war crimes such as torture and unlawful killing. | Both sides have been accused of war crimes such as torture and unlawful killing. |
| The negotiations began in the Congolese capital of Brazzaville on Monday. | The negotiations began in the Congolese capital of Brazzaville on Monday. |
| "We have signed this ceasefire agreement today in front of everyone. Our commitment is firm and irreversible" said Mohamed Moussa Dhaffane, who headed the Seleka delegation. | "We have signed this ceasefire agreement today in front of everyone. Our commitment is firm and irreversible" said Mohamed Moussa Dhaffane, who headed the Seleka delegation. |
| Patrick Edouard Ngaissona, head of the anti-Balaka negotiating team, said anyone caught violating the ceasefire would be arrested. | Patrick Edouard Ngaissona, head of the anti-Balaka negotiating team, said anyone caught violating the ceasefire would be arrested. |
| 'First step' | 'First step' |
| The president of Congo-Brazzaville and mediator of the talks, Denis Sassou Nguesso, said the talks were a success. | |
| "The longest journey begins with the first step... Brazzaville is the first step," he said after the agreement was signed. | "The longest journey begins with the first step... Brazzaville is the first step," he said after the agreement was signed. |
| The Seleka rebels dropped their demand for CAR to be divided into a Muslim north and a Christian south. | |
| Further talks are due to be held in CAR to decide details such as disarmament and the country's political transition. | Further talks are due to be held in CAR to decide details such as disarmament and the country's political transition. |
| The latest violence in CAR began when mainly Muslim rebels seized power in March last year. | |
| CAR's religious make-up | CAR's religious make-up |
| Source: Index Mundi | Source: Index Mundi |
| The majority Christian state then descended into ethno-religious warfare. | The majority Christian state then descended into ethno-religious warfare. |
| The presence of some 7,000 international peacekeepers has also failed to put an end to the violence and revenge attacks. | The presence of some 7,000 international peacekeepers has also failed to put an end to the violence and revenge attacks. |
| Earlier this month Amnesty international named at least 20 people it says are suspected of ordering or committing atrocities and suggests they should be tried under international law by a hybrid court using national and international experts. | Earlier this month Amnesty international named at least 20 people it says are suspected of ordering or committing atrocities and suggests they should be tried under international law by a hybrid court using national and international experts. |