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Africa Subsaharan
U.N., U.S. Concern as Central Africa Rebels Close in on Capital
2012-12-28
[An Nahar] The U.N. is evacuating staff from the Central African Republic and the U.S. has warned its citizens to leave as rebel fighters close in on the tense capital Bangui.

La Belle France also deployed troops to protect its embassy after it was attacked by demonstrators calling for the former colonial power to help push back the rebels who have already seized several towns in the north of the resource-rich but poverty-stricken nation.

The United Nations
...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks...
on Wednesday ordered more than 200 non-essential staff and families of other workers to leave.

"The temporary relocation is a precautionary measure to reduce our presence in the event the security situation further deteriorates in Bangui," U.N. front man Martin Nesirky said.

The rebels' "contradictory messages and their continued military offensive seem to indicate that they might be intent on taking Bangui," he added.

Washington expressed "deep concern" and warned all Americans to leave the country "until the security situation improved."

State Department front man Patrick Ventrell also said the ambassador had "authorized the departure of family members and non-emergency personnel from our Embassy in Bangui as a result of increased rebel activity in the north central part of the country."

With President Francois Bozize's government now largely restricted to Bangui, Chadian troops sent last week to help the increasingly fragile regime are the only real obstacle to rebel forces now sitting about 300 kilometers (200 miles) away.

"We call on all the sons and daughters of Central Africa, on all members of defense and security forces still loyal to Francois Bozize's regime... to lay down their arms immediately," said a statement from the Seleka rebel coalition after capturing its fourth major town in a month.

"For reasons of security and protection of civilians, we no longer consider it necessary to wage the battle for Bangui and to send our troops there as General Francois Bozize... has already lost control of the country," it said.

The Seleka coalition is made up of rebels who say the government has not honored peace accords signed between 2007 and 2011 that offered financial support and other help for gunnies who laid down their arms.
Posted by:Fred

#1  "The temporary relocation is
a precautionary measure
to reduce our presence
in the event the security situation
further deteriorates
in Thattown,
Our strongly worded letter files on"

-Battle Hymm Words of the UN
Posted by: swksvolFF   2012-12-28 16:36  

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