Central African Republic: President Asks Rebels to Lay Down Arms

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/world/africa/president-of-central-african-republic-urges-rebels-to-lay-down-arms.html

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President François Bozizé on Tuesday urged rebels threatening to enter the capital to lay down their arms and let him complete the last three years of his term. “I will not be a candidate in the 2016 election, so let me finish my mandate,” he said in an address on state radio. “I only have three years left.” He also criticized his army for a string of defeats during the Seleka rebels’ three-week advance on the capital, Bangui, and thanked troops from neighboring Chad for intervening. The rebels, camped within 45 miles of Bangui, accuse Mr. Bozizé of reneging on a 2007 deal to give money and jobs to former rebels, and their leaders are now split over whether to accept an offer of new talks.