Coup - Central African Republic

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.
Michel Djotodia has declared himself leader of
the rebel coalition
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.
President Francois Bozize fled power 10 years
after his coup
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.