Central African Republic rebels from Seleka have reportedly entered the capital of Bangui. The Seleka coalition have demanded that President Francois Bozize resign from office., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
23 March 2013
Last updated at 15:27 ET
Central African Republic rebels 'enter capital Bangui'
Rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR) have entered the capital Bangui, according to witnesses.
Residents said hundreds of Seleka rebels were now fighting running battles with government troops.
The rebels urged government forces not to resist and said President Francois Bozize should step down.
Seleka began their offensive earlier this week, accusing Mr Bozize of failing to honour a peace deal signed in January - a charge he denies.
Rebel spokesman Nelson Ndjadder said they had shot down a government military helicopter and were now heading for the presidential palace.
They are also said to have cut off electrical power to parts of the city, having taken control of three power plants in the neighbouring town of Boali.
A local UN official in southern Bangui said people were in a state of panic but could not confirm the rebels had entered the city.
Former colonial power France called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the crisis, presidential spokesman Romain Nadal said, quoted by AFP news agency.
French nationals in the country had been advised to stay at home, he added.
The rebels joined a power-sharing government in January after talks brokered by regional leaders to end a rebellion they launched last year.
But the deal quickly collapsed, with the rebels saying their demands, including the release of political prisoners, had not been met.
On Friday it was reported that they had taken a checkpoint in the town of Damara, about an hour's drive from Bangui, where regional Fomac peacekeepers are based.
CAR has been hit by a series of rebellions since independence from France in 1960.
It is one of the poorest countries in Africa, despite its considerable mineral resources.
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