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| CAR's ousted leader Bozize says Chad aided rebels | CAR's ousted leader Bozize says Chad aided rebels |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The ousted president of the Central African Republic (CAR) has accused Chad of helping the rebels that toppled him. | The ousted president of the Central African Republic (CAR) has accused Chad of helping the rebels that toppled him. |
| Francois Bozize told the BBC it was "Chadian special forces" who led the final operation of last month's rebellion, including an attack on a base of South African troops. | Francois Bozize told the BBC it was "Chadian special forces" who led the final operation of last month's rebellion, including an attack on a base of South African troops. |
| Chad, which is hosting an emergency regional summit on CAR, has not commented on the allegations. | Chad, which is hosting an emergency regional summit on CAR, has not commented on the allegations. |
| Mr Bozize said he had requested but was refused a seat at the meeting. | Mr Bozize said he had requested but was refused a seat at the meeting. |
| But South Africa's President Jacob Zuma is one of those attending the Economic Community of Central African States summit. | |
| Thirteen South African soldiers were killed in the clashes in the capital, Bangui, when the Seleka rebel group seized power after a peace deal negotiated with Mr Bozize collapsed. | Thirteen South African soldiers were killed in the clashes in the capital, Bangui, when the Seleka rebel group seized power after a peace deal negotiated with Mr Bozize collapsed. |
| The incident has caused controversy in South Africa. The governing ANC party has rejected accusations that the troops were there because of mining interests. | The incident has caused controversy in South Africa. The governing ANC party has rejected accusations that the troops were there because of mining interests. |
| South Africa's government says they were training government forces and providing security. | South Africa's government says they were training government forces and providing security. |
| 'Surprise' | 'Surprise' |
| "On Saturday March 23 we had neutralised Seleka forces but overnight into Sunday 24, we knew that there had been support from an African country, which I inevitably believe was Chad," Mr Bozize, who fled to Cameroon after the rebellion, told the BBC French Service. | "On Saturday March 23 we had neutralised Seleka forces but overnight into Sunday 24, we knew that there had been support from an African country, which I inevitably believe was Chad," Mr Bozize, who fled to Cameroon after the rebellion, told the BBC French Service. |
| "We can confirm it was Chadian special forces that led the operation on the Sunday morning and attacked the barracks of the South Africans," he said. | "We can confirm it was Chadian special forces that led the operation on the Sunday morning and attacked the barracks of the South Africans," he said. |
| Last week, Mr Zuma said the South African troops died in a nine-hour "high-tempo battle" against the "bandits" in Bangui. | Last week, Mr Zuma said the South African troops died in a nine-hour "high-tempo battle" against the "bandits" in Bangui. |
| Mr Bozize, who seized power in a coup in 2003 and won two subsequent elections, said he was surprised by Chad's move. | Mr Bozize, who seized power in a coup in 2003 and won two subsequent elections, said he was surprised by Chad's move. |
| "To avoid a bloodshed I decided to resign after a phone call I made to the French ambassador," he said. | "To avoid a bloodshed I decided to resign after a phone call I made to the French ambassador," he said. |
| "We had a solid and friendship relation with the Chadian authorities. Chad alone can give an explanation." | "We had a solid and friendship relation with the Chadian authorities. Chad alone can give an explanation." |
| Louisa Lombard, a fellow at the University of California in Berkeley who specialises in the CAR, said relations between the neighbours had soured in recent month. | Louisa Lombard, a fellow at the University of California in Berkeley who specialises in the CAR, said relations between the neighbours had soured in recent month. |
| Up until last year, Chad's President Idriss Deby provided Mr Bozize with his personal guards, she said. | Up until last year, Chad's President Idriss Deby provided Mr Bozize with his personal guards, she said. |
| "One of the things that really frustrated President Deby was the presence of a Chadian rebel group on Central African territory and Deby's sense that Bozize didn't do enough to deal with this group," Ms Lombard told the BBC's Newsday programme. | "One of the things that really frustrated President Deby was the presence of a Chadian rebel group on Central African territory and Deby's sense that Bozize didn't do enough to deal with this group," Ms Lombard told the BBC's Newsday programme. |
| "Another thing was probably that President Bozize was starting to pursue alliances with other countries, notably South Africa - and that this was seen a compromising somewhat his relationship with Deby," she said. | "Another thing was probably that President Bozize was starting to pursue alliances with other countries, notably South Africa - and that this was seen a compromising somewhat his relationship with Deby," she said. |
| Michel Djotodia, the rebel leader who has declared himself president, is sending his Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye to the summit in Chad's capital, N'Djamena. | |
| Mr Djotodia announced a caretaker government on Sunday and says he will run the country until elections in 2016. | Mr Djotodia announced a caretaker government on Sunday and says he will run the country until elections in 2016. |