(SomaliNet) Two commanders of a rebel group active in the northeast of Central African Republic (CAR) were killed during French-backed army operations to restore government control of the region, officials said Tuesday. CAR's defence ministry statement read on state radio by presidential press spokesman Barthelemy Feidoka said the rebels, General Damane Zakaria and Capt. Diego Albator Yao, were killed in fighting with government troops. However, there was no independent confirmation of the deaths of the two UFDR commanders. There was no answer from Yao's satellite phone on Tuesday.
French military advisers and French Mirage fighters have since late November been assisting the government army in an offensive to regain control of the northeast Vakaga prefecture where UFDR fighters had seized a string of towns since Oct. 30.