Central African Republic: Rebels Condemned

The self-proclaimed leader of a rebel takeover in the Central African Republic is due to name a new power-sharing government as he faces international criticism for a coup that killed 13 South African soldiers.

The UN Security Council has said it is ready to take "further measures" after soldiers led by strongman Michel Djotodia forced the president of the mineral-rich nation to flee on Sunday.

The rebel coalition, called Seleka, overran the city of Bangui at the weekend pushing aside hundreds of South African soldiers.

The soldiers who died were part of a training contingent deployed in the CAR at the request of the government.

South African president Jacob Zuma said: "The actions of these bandits will not deter us from our responsibility of working for peace and stability in Africa."

The 15-member Security Council said Seleka had "jeopardised the precarious stability" of the country and breached a January 11 peace accord.

Mr Djotodia has asked regional peacekeepers for their help in restoring order after his own men joined in a second day of looting on Monday.

His organisation's ousting of President Francois Bozize has also been condemned by the African Union.

However, despite criticising Seleka's actions over the weekend, the US has refused to support Mr Bozize and declined to call his ousting a "coup".

The US State Department said it was focused on keeping a power-sharing peace accord alive and is reviewing all aid programmes to the country.

The US is also thought to be concerned about how political instability will disrupt the hunt for African warlord Joseph Kony. Mr Bozize was a strong supporter of African efforts to dismantle Kony's Lord's Resistance Army.

The removal of Mr Bozize, who had himself seized power in a coup backed by Chad in 2003, was just the latest of many rebellions since the poor, landlocked country won independence from France in 1960.

Mr Djotodia said after thousands of rebels swept into Bangui: "We will lead the people of Central African Republic during a three-year transition period, in accordance with the Libreville Accord."

January's peace deal signed at Libreville, the capital of Gabon, was drafted by regional mediators after the rebels besieged Bangui in December.

The accord had created a government drawn from Bozize loyalists, rebels and the civilian opposition.

Some 600,000 residents of the capital remained without power and running water for a third day on Monday and there were widespread reports of looting by rebels and civilians.

Neighbouring Cameroon confirmed on Monday that Mr Bozize had arrived there but said it was not giving him permanent refuge.