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| Central African Republic rebels seize capital and force president to flee | Central African Republic rebels seize capital and force president to flee |
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| Rebels in Central African Republic (CAR) have seized control of the capital, Bangui, after fierce fighting, forcing President François Bozizé to flee. | Rebels in Central African Republic (CAR) have seized control of the capital, Bangui, after fierce fighting, forcing President François Bozizé to flee. |
| At least nine South African soldiers were killed trying to prevent the rebels taking Bangui, dealing a blow to Pretoria's attempt to stabilise CAR and assert its influence in the region. | At least nine South African soldiers were killed trying to prevent the rebels taking Bangui, dealing a blow to Pretoria's attempt to stabilise CAR and assert its influence in the region. |
| Fighting broke out last week in the former French colony and rebels quickly swept south towards Bangui with the aim of toppling Bozizé, whom they accuse of breaking a January peace deal to integrate opposition fighters into the army. | Fighting broke out last week in the former French colony and rebels quickly swept south towards Bangui with the aim of toppling Bozizé, whom they accuse of breaking a January peace deal to integrate opposition fighters into the army. |
| "We have taken the presidential palace," Eric Massi, a spokesman for the Seleka rebel coalition, told Reuters. | "We have taken the presidential palace," Eric Massi, a spokesman for the Seleka rebel coalition, told Reuters. |
| Senior government officials confirmed that the rebels had captured the city of more than 600,000 people, which lies on the banks of the Oubangi river bordering Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Residents reported widespread looting of homes and businesses. | Senior government officials confirmed that the rebels had captured the city of more than 600,000 people, which lies on the banks of the Oubangi river bordering Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Residents reported widespread looting of homes and businesses. |
| "The looting is bad. Both the population and Seleka are involved," said one senior UN official in Bangui. "We are not sure who is in charge. I don't think it is clear yet. It is too early in the game." | "The looting is bad. Both the population and Seleka are involved," said one senior UN official in Bangui. "We are not sure who is in charge. I don't think it is clear yet. It is too early in the game." |
| The violence is the latest in a series of rebel incursions, clashes and coups that have plagued the landlocked nation, which has rich deposits of gold, diamonds and uranium, since its independence from France in 1960. | The violence is the latest in a series of rebel incursions, clashes and coups that have plagued the landlocked nation, which has rich deposits of gold, diamonds and uranium, since its independence from France in 1960. |
| Bozizé's whereabouts were uncertain. A presidential adviser said he had crossed the river into DRC on Sunday morning as rebel forces headed for the presidential palace. | Bozizé's whereabouts were uncertain. A presidential adviser said he had crossed the river into DRC on Sunday morning as rebel forces headed for the presidential palace. |
| France announced that it was sending more troops to secure Bangui's airport and protect more than 1,200 French citizens who live in the country. | France announced that it was sending more troops to secure Bangui's airport and protect more than 1,200 French citizens who live in the country. |
| DRC's government asked the UN Refugee Agency to help move 25 members of Bozizé's family out of the border town of Zongo. The information minister, Lambert Mende, said the president was not among them. | DRC's government asked the UN Refugee Agency to help move 25 members of Bozizé's family out of the border town of Zongo. The information minister, Lambert Mende, said the president was not among them. |
| CAR has extensive and unprotected borders, and the rebel takeover may add to instability in the turbulent region. It was one of several countries where US special forces were helping local soldiers hunt down the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group originally from Uganda that has killed thousands of people across central Africa. | CAR has extensive and unprotected borders, and the rebel takeover may add to instability in the turbulent region. It was one of several countries where US special forces were helping local soldiers hunt down the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group originally from Uganda that has killed thousands of people across central Africa. |
| As the loose coalition of rebels, some of whom are former rivals, tightened their grip on Bangui, it was unclear who would replace Bozizé or whether the prime minister, Nicolas Tiangaye, and his power-sharing government would remain in place. | As the loose coalition of rebels, some of whom are former rivals, tightened their grip on Bangui, it was unclear who would replace Bozizé or whether the prime minister, Nicolas Tiangaye, and his power-sharing government would remain in place. |
| The rebels received several key ministerial portfolios in the government under January's peace deal but accused Bozizé of unfairly keeping important posts for his loyalists. | The rebels received several key ministerial portfolios in the government under January's peace deal but accused Bozizé of unfairly keeping important posts for his loyalists. |
| Nelson Ndjadder, a spokesman representing Seleka's CPSK faction, said the rebels would begin a transition process towards elections that would include all political groups. | Nelson Ndjadder, a spokesman representing Seleka's CPSK faction, said the rebels would begin a transition process towards elections that would include all political groups. |
| "This situation must not lead to any vengeance, pillaging or score-settling, which we would quickly condemn and bring those responsible to justice," Ndjadder said in a statement. A Reuters witness, however, saw youths looting houses, including the residence of Bozizé's son Francis, in the northern part of Bangui. | "This situation must not lead to any vengeance, pillaging or score-settling, which we would quickly condemn and bring those responsible to justice," Ndjadder said in a statement. A Reuters witness, however, saw youths looting houses, including the residence of Bozizé's son Francis, in the northern part of Bangui. |
| Rebel fighters directed looters towards the houses of army officers, but fired their rifles in the air to protect the homes of ordinary citizens, the witness said. | Rebel fighters directed looters towards the houses of army officers, but fired their rifles in the air to protect the homes of ordinary citizens, the witness said. |
| Seleka's forces had fought their way to the northern suburbs of the capital late on Saturday before an overnight lull in the fighting. | Seleka's forces had fought their way to the northern suburbs of the capital late on Saturday before an overnight lull in the fighting. |
| Massi said the rebels had broken through a line of South African soldiers during their push into the city. Around 400 South African troops were deployed in the country as military trainers. | Massi said the rebels had broken through a line of South African soldiers during their push into the city. Around 400 South African troops were deployed in the country as military trainers. |
| "I saw the bodies of six South African soldiers. They had all been shot," a Reuters witness said. Later, he saw three more bodies in burned-out South African military vehicles. | "I saw the bodies of six South African soldiers. They had all been shot," a Reuters witness said. Later, he saw three more bodies in burned-out South African military vehicles. |
| Regional peacekeeping sources said the South Africans had fought alongside CAR's army on Saturday to prevent rebels entering the capital. | Regional peacekeeping sources said the South Africans had fought alongside CAR's army on Saturday to prevent rebels entering the capital. |
| A UN source in Bangui said South African troops were preparing to leave the country. | A UN source in Bangui said South African troops were preparing to leave the country. |
| "They took substantial losses and have asked for French support to load their troops and take off," said the source. | "They took substantial losses and have asked for French support to load their troops and take off," said the source. |
| Several peacekeepers from the Central African regional force, including three Chadians, were killed on Saturday when a helicopter operated by Bozizé's forces attacked them, Chad's presidency said in a statement. | Several peacekeepers from the Central African regional force, including three Chadians, were killed on Saturday when a helicopter operated by Bozizé's forces attacked them, Chad's presidency said in a statement. |
| Bozizé seized power in 2003 with Chad's support, and Chadian forces have since intervened on several occasions to fend off attempts to depose him. | Bozizé seized power in 2003 with Chad's support, and Chadian forces have since intervened on several occasions to fend off attempts to depose him. |
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