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In brief: Central African rivals agree to peace accord

From Wire Reports

BANGUI, Central African Republic – Rival armed groups in Central African Republic signed a deal Sunday to lay down their arms and end a conflict that has killed thousands, the United Nations said.

Lengthy negotiations saw the 10 armed groups sign the accord in which they agreed to “formally disarm, renounce armed struggle as a means of political demands and enter into a process of Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation (DDRR),” the U.N. said.

The special representative of the U.N. secretary-general for Central African Republic, Gen. Babacar Gaye, said the signing of the agreement has turned a page in the country.

President Catherine Samba-Panza is now leading a transitional government that, along with a U.N. peacekeeping force, is trying to stabilize the country and steer it toward elections.

Attacks leave 22 dead in Macedonia

KUMANOVO, Macedonia – An armed group battling Macedonian police over the weekend left 22 people dead and aimed to destabilize the country with terror attacks, the country’s president declared Sunday in a nationwide television address.

President George Ivanov spoke after an emergency meeting of Macedonia’s National Security Council in the capital, Skopje. He had cut short his visit to Russia on Saturday, the day the armed clashes began in the northern town of Kumanovo.

“Police have prevented coordinated terrorist attacks at different locations in the country that would cause serious destabilization, chaos and fear,” Ivanov said. “The members of the group are extremists and criminals with remarkable military training and skills. That’s why we have paid such a high price with the loss of lives.”

The attacks left at least 22 people dead, including eight police and 14 attackers, Interior Ministry spokesman Ivo Kotevski said.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told reporters the group of over 40 armed men had planned to attack state institutions, sport events and shopping malls and said they had combat experience both in the region and in the Middle East.