Central African Republic's Francois Bozize flees as rebels invade capital

Rebels in the Central African Republic seized control of the capital yesterday after a rapid assault, with President Francois Bozize reportedly fleeing the country.

Fighters in the Seleka rebel coalition launched an offensive on Bangui after the collapse of a two-month-old peace deal in the notoriously unstable former French colony - ignoring a call for talks to avoid a "bloodbath".

The whereabouts of Bozize, who came to power through a coup in 2003, remained a mystery. He has not been seen since his return from a brief visit to South Africa on Friday.

A well-placed source said Bozize had "left the country in a helicopter", but did not disclose his destination, while French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius confirmed only that the president had fled Bangui.

After a morning of gun battles centred around the presidential palace, witnesses reported widespread looting by armed men as anarchy reigned in the riverside capital in the wake of the seizure, with attacks on shops, houses and cars.

"The rebels are in control of the city even though there is still some sporadic gunfire," a source in the multinational central African force FOMAC said.

The fighting erupted after the rebels - who first launched an offensive against the government late last year - moved into the city on Saturday, facing little resistance from the poorly equipped and ill-trained national army.