However, the Seleka rebels say they might insist on the removal of President Francois Bozize in the negotiations.

 

　　The group accused Bozize, who used military force to seize power in 2003, of reneging on a previous peace deal and cracking down on dissidents.

 

　　Earlier, Bozize has pledged not to run for a third term in presidential elections and said he was ready to share power with rebel leaders.

 

　　Residents living in the capital area say the rebellion has brought their lives to a standstill and they are living in fear.

 

　　"We're really fed up of all these problems going on here, everybody here in Damara has gone into the bush, even our wives, our children are in the bush, like that, the hospitals are not working, nothing, there's nothing, just suffering."

 

　　Both the United States and France, the former colonial power, have rejected a plea by the government for help to defeat the rebels.

 

　　However, Central African Economic group members including Congo Republic and Cameroon sent hundreds of troops to reinforce CAR's army since last month.

 

　　239 Chinese nationals living in the country have been evacuated as the rebels closed on the capital Bangui after a three-week onslaught.

 

　　The country has faced political unrest since independence from France in 1960, including numerous attempted coups.