US embassy evacuated in Central African Republic

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French soldiers arrive at the Bangui airport on December 28, 2012, as the foreign Ministers of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) decided that more troops of the Central African Multinational Force (FOMAC) should be sent to the Central African Republic. 150 French soldiers were sent to Bangui from a base in Libreville, Gabon. AFP PHOTO / ECPAD / ARMEE DE TERRE

RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / ECPAD / ARMEE DE TERRE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS-/AFP/Getty ImagesSia Kambou / AFP - Getty ImagesA Centrafrican military convoy drives on a road going to Sibut, 114 miles north of Bangui, the country's capital on Saturday. Sibut was seized by the rebel coalition Seleka. By Isolde Raftery, NBC NewsAs rebels approached the capital of the embattled Central African Republic, the U.S. shuttered its embassy and moved out its ambassador and about 40 diplomats, the Guardian of London reported.

Follow @NBCNewsWorld“This decision is solely due to concerns about the security of our personnel and has no relation to our continuing and long-standing diplomatic relations with the (Central African Republic),” read a statement posted Friday to the embassy’s website.

The Seleka rebels seized the city of Sibut about 114 miles from Bangui, the capital, a government official confirmed to The Associated Press. Sibut, a transportation hub, fell to the rebels without a shot fired because the government army had pulled back on Friday.




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