BANGUI, Central African Republic - Below is a snapshot of developments in the Central African Republic, where armed rebels at the weekend took control of the capital Bangui, forcing leader Francois Bozize to flee:
FRIDAY, MARCH 22
- Rebels from the Seleka coalition advance on the capital Bangui in the wake of the collapse of a two-month-old peace deal with Bozize's regime.
SUNDAY, MARCH 24
- Rebels say they have seized the presidential palace in an assault on the capital Bangui. Bozize flees.
- France notes the departure of Bozize and calls on all parties in the Central African Republic "to remain calm and hold talks on a national unity government".
- Later, France sends 350 soldiers to the Central African Republic, to ensure the security of its nationals and other foreigners. France now has nearly 600 troops in its notoriously unstable former colony.
- The leader of Seleka, Michel Djotodia, says rebels will respect a peace deal signed in January in the Gabonese capital Libreville, and will organise free and fair elections within three years.
- UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemns what he calls "the unconstitutional seizure of power" by rebels and says he is "deeply concerned" by reports of rights violations in Central African Republic.
MONDAY, MARCH 25
- President Jacob Zuma says that at least 13 South African troops deployed in the Central African Republic were killed and 27 wounded in clashes with rebels.
- Ousted Bozize has taken refuge in Cameroon, the president's office in Yaounde announces, where he is "awaiting his departure to another host country".
- New strongman Djotodia suspends the constitution, dissolves parliament and the government, declares transitional rule and says he will rule by decree until elections are organised in three years.
- French troops kill two Indians when they open fire on vehicles approaching the airport in Bangui, which they are protecting in the wake of the coup, the French defence ministry says.
- The African Union suspends the Central African Republic and imposes sanctions on seven Seleka officials, including Djotodia, while the UN Security Council condemns the killing of the South Africans and calls for "the swift restoration of constitutional order".
TUESDAY, MARCH 26
- Looters go on the rampage in Bangui, where a curfew is decreed. The International Committee of the Red Cross says the fighting has left scores dead.
- Members of Bozize's family arrive in Kinshasa, a day after arriving in the Democratic Republic of Congo. - Sapa-AFP
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