UN slams attacks in Central African Republic
New York - (ANA) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon yesterday strongly condemned rebel groups' armed attacks on several towns in the Central African Republic, saying that these actions "gravely undermine the peace agreements in place" in the African country. Hundreds of protesters gathered around the French Embassy in the Central African Republic on Wednesday angry at the lack of support by the former colonial power in fighting the advancing "SELEKA" rebel coalition. The SELEKA coalition says the government has not honored peace accords signed between 2007 and 2011, which offered financial support and other help for insurgents who laid down their arms. The protest came one day after the government lost the central town of Kaga Bandoro to northern rebels, the latest in a series taken by Seleka fighters in the past weeks. The loss of Kaga Bandoro exposed the capital Bangui closer to rebels, who had previously captured such towns as Ndele and Bria, without much resistance from ill-equipped government forces. The country is facing the biggest challenge to its security since forming a government in January 2009 after an inclusive political dialogue in Bangui.mLast week, the government rejected the charges by Seleka rebels that it failed to respect the Libreville Global PeaceAgreements signed between 2006 and 2007.(ANA)

FA/ANA/27 December 2012---------