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Under a rebel insurgency, President Francois Bozize of Central African Republic took full control of the military, dismissing his son as acting defense minister. Other African nations have sent hundreds of soldiers to Central African Republic to help fight the rebels.

Facing an insurgency by a new rebel coalition, the president of Central African Republic consolidated military power under his control Thursday after dismissing his own son as acting defense minister along with his army chief of staff.

President Francois Bozize said in a decree read on state radio late Wednesday that he was taking over the position held by his son, Jean Francis Bozize as neighboring countries sent troops to help.

Hundreds of soldiers from Chad, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Cameroon have been in arriving this week in this desperately poor, landlocked country where rebels have seized 10 towns in a month's time.

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Central African Republic president refuses to leave power, defying rebels -- Reuters
CAR President Sacks Defense Minister -- Voice of America
C. African Republic leader fires son from post -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Central Africa on the Brink, Rebels Halt Their Advance -- New York Times
Central African Republic rebels halt advance on Bangui -- BBC
Regional Troops Warn C.A.R. Rebels to Stop Advance -- Voice of America
Central African Republic: Tension Engulfs CAR After Arbitrary Arrests -- allAfrica.com
A decade after C. African Republic president seized power he now faces rebel threat of his own -- Washington Post

(Reuters) - Rebels in Central African Republic said they had halted their advance on the capital on Wednesday and agreed to start peace talks, averting a clash with regionally backed troops.

The Seleka rebels had pushed to within striking distance of Bangui after a three-week onslaught and threatened to oust President Francois Bozize, accusing him of reneging on a previous peace deal and cracking down on dissidents.

Their announcement on Wednesday gave the leader only a limited reprieve as the fighters told Reuters they might insist on his removal in the negotiations.

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Central African Republic rebels halt advance on Bangui -- BBC
CAR rebels halt advance on capital -- Al Jazeera
Central African Republic rebels agree to talks -- The Guardian
Central Africa rebels agree to talks -- The Australian
Central African rebels agree to talks -- Financial Times
Central Africa rebels agree to peace talks -- Kuwait Times
Central African Republic Says Rebels Agree to Peace Talks -- Bloomberg Businessweek
C. African Republic leader faces rebel threat -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Embattled Central African Republic president sacks defense minister, army chief -- Reuters
Regional Troops Warn C.A.R. Rebels to Stop Advance -- Voice of America
Regional forces on guard in CAR -- UPI
Bozize Supporters Build Roadblocks in CAR Capital -- Voice of America
UN renews call for dialogue to resolve crisis in Central African Republic -- UN News Centre
In pictures: Central African Republic strife -- Al Jazeera

JOHANNESBURG — As efforts to broker a deal to stop a rebel advance failed, residents of the capital of the Central African Republic were packing up their belongings and fleeing into the country’s vast hinterlands, fearing a major battle between government troops and guerrilla fighters.

Rebels rejected an offer from the country’s president, François Bozizé. It was brokered by the African Union and proposed forming a government of national unity. But the rebels balked, saying that previous agreements with the president had been made and quickly broken.

“Bozizé speaks, but does not keep his word,” said a rebel spokesman, Juma Narkoyo. “That is why we have taken up arms to make our voices heard.”

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Region sends troops to rescue Central African regime -- AFP
Extra peacekeeping troops arrive in Central African Republic -- Euronews
Residents of Central African Republic’s capital nervously await attack by rebels from north -- Washington Post/AP
CAR president urges rebels to let him finish his term -- Reuters
CAR Negotiations May Not Be Possible -- Voice of America
Central African Republic rebels say split over peace talks offer -- Reuters
Central African Republic rebels ignore negotiation -- AP
African Union tells Central African Republic rebels to end uprising -- L.A. Times
EU Urges Talks in Central African Republic -- RIA Novosti
Do not let CAR government fall -- The Observer editorial

The government of the Central African Republic and rebels have agreed to hold talks after weeks of clashes.

A regional delegation said no pre-conditions had been set for the talks which will be held in Libreville, capital of neighbouring Gabon.

The announcement comes after government troops and rebel fighters clashed in the central town of Bambari on Friday.

Rapid gains by the Seleka rebels have raised fears that CAR's capital Bangui could fall within a few days.

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Fresh fighting in C. African Republic as crisis grows -- AFP
Central African Republic’s neighbors agree to send military contingent to troubled country -- Washington Post/AP
AU Ready to Increase Military Presence in CAR -- Voice of America
Residents flee Bangui as rebels pause for talks -- Reuters
Diplomats Make Last Ditch Effort to Talk With CAR Rebels -- Voice of America
Central African Republic rebels advance as US embassy shuts -- The Guardian
U.S. diplomats leave Central African Republic amid unrest -- CNN
US embassy evacuated as rebels surge in Central African Republic -- Christian Science Monitor

(CNN) -- The president of the Central African Republic asked Thursday for help from other nations to stave off rebel advances that threaten his rule.

The former French colony asked France and the United States to help ensure "the rebels return home...instead of destroying and killing Central Africans," President Francois Bozize said.

"Fellow citizens, the time has come," Bozize said. The rebels "want to steal our country and we want to do (something) about it."

Amid indications that the rebels may try to take the capital, Bangui, the United Nations began relocating dependents and nonessential staff.

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Central African Republic calls for foreign help fighting rebels, but no sign of major help -- Washington Post/AP
CAR appeals for French help against rebels, Paris balks -- Reuters
Central African Republic calls for US and French help -- Deutsche Welle
Rebels Are Advancing Toward Capital of Central African Republic -- New York Times
Central African Republic rebels advance towards capital -- The Guardian
CAR violence draws U.N. condemnation -- UPI
France: Protecting Interests, Not Intervening in Central African Republic -- Voice of America
U.S. suspends embassy operations in rebel-hit Central African Republic -- Reuters
US shuts embassy in Central African Republic -- AP
U.S. Closes Embassy in Central African Republic -- Wall Street Journal
U.S. Embassy Cuts Operations in Central African Republic -- Bloomberg
US Closes Embassy in Central African Republic; Evacuates Staff -- Voice of America
US evacuates Americans from Central African Republic capital as rebels close in -- NBC

(CNN) -- The United Nations announced Wednesday that it is temporarily relocating dependents and nonessential staff in the Central African Republic because a cease-fire with rebel forces is not holding.

Their "contradictory messages and their continued military offensive seem to indicate that they might be intent on taking Bangui," said U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq, referring to the capital city.

The move "is a precautionary measure to reduce our presence in the event the security situation further deteriorates in Bangui," he continued.

In a statement, the spokesperson for Ban Ki-moon said the secretary-general "condemns the armed attacks on several towns in the Central African Republic perpetrated by the coalition of rebel groups 'SELEKA.'

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CAR wants French help as rebels close in on capital -- Reuters
UN on alert as CAR rebels advance -- Al Jazeera
CAR rebels pass last major town, close in on capital – sources -- Euronews/Reuters
CAR Rebels Seize Another Town -- Voice of America
CAR rebels seize territory, demand talks with government -- Euronews
Central African Republic rebels say they don't intend to seize capital, want talks -- FOX News/AP
C.Africa rebels demand surrender as protesters turn on France -- AFP
Protesters throw stones at French Embassy in Central African Republic as rebels advance -- Washington Post/AP
CAR Protesters Attack French Embassy -- Voice of America
UN pulls non-essential staff out of Central African Republic -- AFP
US urges citizens to quit Central African Republic -- AFP

My Comment: If the French and/or UN do not intervene directly, the government is going to fall. What's my prediction .... it is too late to stop the rebel advance, the government is going to fall.