Rebels seize capital, president flees

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Rebels in the Central African Republic seized the riverside capital Bangui in fierce fighting, forcing President Francois Bozize to flee and sowing confusion over who rules the mineral-rich heart of Africa.

At least nine South African soldiers were killed trying to prevent the rebels taking Bangui, a Reuters witness said, dealing a blow to Pretoria's attempt to stabilize the chaotic central African nation and assert its influence in the region.

The Seleka rebel coalition resumed hostilities on Thursday in the former French colony and quickly swept south to Bangui with the aim of ousting Bozize, whom it accused of breaking a January peace deal to integrate its fighters into the army.

"We have taken the presidential palace," Eric Massi, a Seleka spokesman, said on Sunday.

Government officials confirmed the rebels had captured the city of more than 600,000 people, which lies on the banks of the Ubangi river bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a separate development, a rebel leader in the country pledged to name a power-sharing government after seizing Bangui, and declaring himself president, a spokesman said, in an attempt to defuse an international outcry over the coup.

The seizure of power by the Seleka rebel coalition was swiftly condemned by the United Nations and the African Union.

Seleka is a loose coalition of five rebel groups whose name means "alliance" in the Songo language.

Bozize rose to prominence during the rule of former dictator Jean-Bedel Bokassa, the self-styled Emperor Bokassa. Bozize's failure to deliver genuine power-sharing, followed by his re-election in disputed 2011 polls which the opposition boycotted over alleged fraud, led directly to the offensive by Seleka.

Questions:

1. What did the Seleka rebel coalition accuse Bozize of breaking?

2. Who is Eric Massi?

3. How many rebel groups is Seleka comprised of?

Answers:

1. A January peace deal to integrate its fighters into the army.

2. A Seleka spokesman.

3. Five.

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Emily Cheng is an editor at China Daily. She was born in Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in Media, English Literature and Politics. She has worked in the media industry since starting university and this is the third time she has settled abroad - she interned with a magazine in Hong Kong 2007 and studied at the University of Leeds in 2009.