10 000 flee rebel-held CAR
2006-11-16 15:12
Bangui - Up to 10 000 people had fled advancing rebel forces suspected to be moving towards the town of Bria in the Central African Republic (CAR), said a United Nations official.
UN country co-ordinator Toby Lanzer said "five to 10&nsp;000 people" had poured into areas surrounding Bangui from Bria, the main town in a diamond-rich region, some 600km northeast of the capital.
But, Lanzer added that the market and administrative offices in the central town remained open despite fears of an attack by the rebel movement that had moved south from the border with Chad and Sudan since late in October.
He said: "Despite persistent reports of a possible attack on the town, the socio-administrative structures continue to function normally and population continues to go about its business."
After seizing Birao and Ouadda Djalle in the far north of the CAR, the rebel Union of Democratic Forces for the Rally advanced southwards on Sunday, threatening the mining town of Bria.
The former French colony was one of Africa's poorest countries and government control of the unstable north was tenuous.
On November 04, the country's parliament called on the international community and France in particular to help it against the rebels.