Central African Republic President Francois Bozize has sought foreign aid to stop rebel forces. Source: AAP
BANGUI, Central African Republic, Dec 28 AFP - The United States has evacuated its embassy in the Central African Republic as the nation's leader appealed for French and US help after rebels seized large parts of the mineral-rich country.
The United States said it had not cut diplomatic ties with the beleaguered government but warned US citizens not to travel to the chronically unstable country while unrest continues.
The United Nations is also pulling out its staff as rebel fighters get closer to the capital Bangui.
"We ask our French cousins and the United States of America, the great powers, to help us to push back the rebels... to allow for dialogue in Libreville to resolve the current crisis," President Francois Bozize told thousands of supporters at a rally in Bangui.
"There is no question of allowing them to kill Central Africans, of letting them destroy houses and pillage, and holding a knife to our throats to demand dialogue," said Bozize, who seized power in a coup in 2003.
"It is a plot against the Central African Republic, a plot against its people."
Organisers said 10,000 government supporters converged on central Bangui which a rally leader described as "our Tahrir Square".
Central African Republic, with a population of about 4.5 million, has seen frequent coups and mutinies since independence from France in 1960.
The rebel coalition known as Seleka - which means "alliance" - has seized four regional capitals, including a diamond mining hub, since fighting began on December 10.
While it says it has no plans to move on the capital, a statement last week announcing it had suspended its advance was followed within a day by news of further rebel victories.
France is vowing not to intervene.
President Francois Hollande said on Thursday that France would not use its troops stationed in the country to interfere in the conflict.
"If we are present, it is not to protect a regime, it is to protect our nationals and our interests, and in no way to intervene in the internal affairs of a country," Hollande said.
"Those days are gone."
A French foreign ministry spokesman nevertheless condemned "the continued hostility by the rebel groups" and said the crisis should be resolved through dialogue.
On Wednesday, demonstrators angry at France's failure to intervene tore down the flag at its embassy in Bangui and broke the windows of the building.
One French national said the population feared looting and a breakdown of order.
"It would not take much for things to explode," she said.
France has about 250 soldiers based at Bangui airport providing technical support to a peacekeeping mission run by the central African economic bloc ECCAS.
General Jean-Felix Akaga, commander of the regional central African military force known as FOMAC, said Bangui was "fully secured" by its troops, adding that others will arrive to help reinforce the mission.
The rebels are accusing Bozize and his government of having failed to respect the terms of peace deals signed between 2007-2011.
As the ill-equipped Central African army proved little challenge to the insurgents, Bozize asked for help from neighbouring Chad. The Chadian troops are the only real obstacle to the rebels, who are now at least 300 kilometres away.
The United Nations mission in the country has been working to help the government overcome more than a decade of strife.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has condemned the rebel attacks while Washington expressed "deep concern".
Nassour Ouaidou, the head of ECCAS, told AFP the group was trying to broker a truce.
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