BANGUI, April 13 (Reuters) - Central African Republic President Francois Bozize signed a peace accord on Friday with the leader of a rebel group operating in the northeast of the country, a U.N. official said.

General Lamine Cisse, U.N. Special Representative to the Central African Republic, told Reuters the deal was signed in the northeastern town of Birao and would help to end violence that has driven thousands of civilians from their homes.

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