Central African Republic president flees as rebels enter Bangui

François Bozize leaves the capital as armed rebels seize presidential palace amid heavy gunfire

François Bozize took power in 2003 following a rebellion and his rule has been marked by armed conflict with rebel groups. Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

Central African Republic's president, François Bozize, fled the capital early on Sunday, hours after hundreds of armed rebels threatening to overthrow him invaded the city, according to an adviser.

The rebel alliance, known as Seleka, reached the outskirts of Bangui late on Saturday. Heavy gunfire echoed through the city early on Sunday as fighters made their way into the city centre and seized the presidential palace, though the country's leader of a decade was not there at the time.

"Bozize left the city this morning," said Maximin Olouamat, a member of Bozize's presidential majority. He declined to say where the president had gone.

Rebels from several armed groups that have long opposed Bozize joined forces in December and began seizing towns across the country's sparsely populated north. They threatened at the time to march on Bangui, but ultimately halted their advance and agreed to go to peace negotiations in Libreville, the capital of Gabon.

A peace deal was signed on 11 January that allowed Bozize to finish his term, which expires in 2016, but the rebels soon began accusing the president of failing to fulfil his promises.

They demanded that Bozize send home South African forces who were helping bolster the country's military. And they sought to integrate 2,000 rebel fighters into Central African Republic's armed forces.

The deal unravelled more than a week ago, with the rebels taking control of two towns and threatening to advance on the capital.

Late on Saturday, Bangui was plunged into darkness after fighters cut power to much of the city. State radio went dead, and fearful residents cowered in their homes.

"For us, there is no other solution than the departure of François Bozize," Eric Massi, a rebel spokesman, said from Paris by telephone on Saturday.

Massi said the rebels were securing the city, and he called on residents to remain calm and avoid looting amid the chaos.

The growing unrest is the latest threat to the stability of Central African Republic, a nation of 4.5 million people that has long been wracked by rebellions and power grabs.

The president himself took power in 2003 following a rebellion, and his tenure has been marked by conflict with myriad armed groups.