U.S. diplomats evacuate Central African Republic

A May 13, 2012 file photo shows weapons seized by Ugandan soldiers during the capture of Ceasar Acellam, a senior member of the Lord's Resistance Army, arrested in the Central African Republic, and flown to the South Sudanese headquarters of the regional armies hunting the LRA. / MICHELE SIBILONI/AFP/Getty Images

BANGUI, Central African Republic Security concerns deepened in the capital of Central African Republic on Friday after the U.S. ambassador and his diplomatic team were evacuated out of the country by plane overnight amid fears rebels could try to take the capital.

U.S. officials said about 40 people were evacuated on an U.S. Air Force plane bound for Kenya. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the details of the operation.

The evacuation came after President Francois Bozize on Thursday urgently called on former colonial ruler France and other foreign powers to help his government fend off rebels who are quickly seizing territory and approaching the capital.

/ AP

The U.N.'s most powerful body condemned the recent violence and expressed concern about the developments.

"The members of the Security Council reiterate their demand that the armed groups immediately cease hostilities, withdraw from captured cities and cease any further advance towards the city of Bangui," the statement said.

Central African Republic has a history of violent change in government. The current president himself came to power nearly a decade ago in the wake of a rebellion in this resource-rich yet deeply poor country.

Speaking to crowds in Bangui, a city of some 600,000, Bozize pleaded with foreign powers to do what they could. He pointed in particular to France, Central African Republic's former colonial ruler. About 200 French soldiers are already in the country, providing technical support and helping to train the local army, according to the French defense ministry.

"France has the means to stop (the rebels) but unfortunately they have done nothing for us until now," Bozize said.

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[joesapper]

Gee no mention of the weapons factory of Sudan that is aided by Iran , which has been reported , as supplying pirates and terrorist in the region with many different type of weapons inculding mortors to those in Somalia and else where .

[joesapper]

Decline is the development of others , and since this has been the policy , don,t expect the gains of the past to stand tomorrow as this development of others will continue to test the stability of the resolve of the west .

Northern Africa is awash with destablizing groups that are reaching into many areas that are meeting little resistance . Flags of stability retrack while a black flag of terror increases . The answer to this point is weak at best .

[joesapper]

To NOPORTLOONE , your comments are from mars as the weapons are either ak47 form Russian or other weapons from China or Iran , as the weapons factory in Sudan that was feeding thugs of the entire region , including those terrorist and pirates of Somalia .

[yojoe1]

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Damon, and Ben Affleck that loves Africa so much, send them to Africa as an Army of 4 to clean up this mess. Yea Right !!!
Make Affleck the commander - in - chief of the four as he wants American involvement in Sudan that in the future could cost American lives.