CAR rebels seize SANDF vehicles - report

Armed South African soldiers chat with a man in Begoua, Central African Republic, in this still image taken from video on March 23, 2013.

Armed South African soldiers chat with a man in Begoua, Central African Republic, in this still image taken from video on March 23, 2013.

Published Apr 2, 2013

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Bangui - Rebel soldiers are driving around the Central African Republic capital of Bangui in SA National Defence Force (SANDF) military vehicles, TimesLive reported on Tuesday.

Seleka rebels who overthrew the CAR government had captured the military vehicles, the website said.

On Monday, a group of heavily-armed Seleka rebels could be seen draped over a Toyota Landcruiser marked with the insignia of Operation Vimbezela, the South African military mission in the CAR, it was reported.

A machine gun was mounted on the roof of the vehicle.

TimeLive said witnesses reported seeing several other South African military vehicles in rebel hands.

Just over a week ago, 13 South African soldiers were killed and 27 wounded during a clash with the rebels.

President Jacob Zuma has said the troops were in CAR as part of a military co-operation agreement signed in 2007. This was renewed for a further five years in December last year.

That agreement entailed providing military training to the CAR army and refurbishing military infrastructure.

On Monday, the Democratic Alliance said it was tabling an urgent parliamentary motion to force Zuma to withdraw all South African troops from the CAR.

Comment from the SANDF could not be immediately obtained. - Sapa

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