Central African Republic: Rebels Head to Capital After Seizing Town
|
Version 0 of 1. Rebels in the Central African Republic have advanced to within “a few kilometers” of the capital, Bangui, a spokesman for France’s Foreign Ministry said Friday, and France expressed concern about the situation in its former colony. As the rebels began their advance on Friday, they seized the town of Damara, rebels and military officials said, a day after the insurgents rejected more talks with President François Bozizé, whom they accuse of breaking the terms of a January peace accord. The government deployed an attack helicopter and ground troops in an effort to blunt the insurgents’ southward push, a senior regional military officer said. But a spokesman for the rebel coalition said the insurgents had already infiltrated some of their fighters into the capital. In Bangui, panicked residents closed shops and schools after radio stations broadcast news of the rebel advance. |