African Union head proposes national unity govt for CAR

President of the Central African Republic Francois Bozize (right) talks with the Chairman of the African Union and President of Benin Thomas Yayi Boni at the airport in Bangui on Sunday. Bozize said he was ready to share power with the leaders of a rebellion that has swept aside government defenses to come within striking distance of the capital. Luc Gnago / Reuters

The head of the African Union, Benin's President Thomas Boni Yayi, has proposed a government of national unity to resolve the rebel conflict in the Central African Republic.

Boni Yayi arrived on Sunday to try to find a negotiated resolution to the country's crisis. The president of the African Union met with President Francois Bozize and then made an appeal to the rebels.

"I beg my rebellious brothers, I ask them to cease hostilities, to make peace with President (Francois) Bozize and the Central African people," said Boni Yayi at a news conference in the capital, Bangui. "If you stop fighting, you are helping to consolidate peace in Africa. African people do not deserve all this suffering. The African continent needs peace and not war."

Boni Yayi said that Bozize had pledged to have an open dialogue with the rebels with the goal of establishing a government of national unity, which would include representation from the rebels and the Bozize government.

Bozize also addressed the conference and said that although he plans to stay in power until his term ends in 2016, he is not against having the rebels enter a coalition government with him.

"We'll probably be able to set up a national unity government. I apologize to the suffering Central African people," said Bozize. "It is a message of peace to my brothers of the Central African Republic," he said.

The African Union's leader arrived in Bangui at a time when many feared there would be a battle over the city of 600,000.

According to several families in Bangui, members of the Presidential Guard have kidnapped people suspected of supporting the rebels, who have seized 10 cities in the country's north over the past three weeks.

A rebel spokesman, Colonel Juma Narkoyo, warned Bozize: "We warn the head of state and his family to stop abducting our parents. They have nothing to do with it. If he wants to solve its problems, he comes to meet us on the ground. We expect firm feet."

On his arrival in Bangui, Yayi Boni had a private meeting for more than two hours with Bozize in the VIP lounge of Mpoko Airport, which is secured by French troops.

So far Boni Yayi has no meetings scheduled with rebels or with the democratic opposition.

Boni Yayi's diplomatic effort comes as France has deployed an additional 180 troops to protect its interests.

The French reinforcements arrived on Sunday from nearby Gabon, bringing the total French military force in Bangui to nearly 600, said Colonel Thierry Burkhard. The troops are to protect French residents in the capital.

As fears mounted that the rebels would attack Bangui, Bozize imposed a curfew from 7 pm until 5 am.

Bozize earlier appealed to France for help against the rebels, but the government of French President Francois Hollande said it would only protect French interests and would not prop up the Bangui government.

As rebels have made a rapid advance across the country's north, residents in the capital now fear the insurgents could attack at any time, despite assurances by rebel leaders that they are willing to engage in dialogue instead of attacking Bangui.