CAR Rebels Break Terms of Cease-Fire

The prime minister of the Central African Republic (CAR) says members of a rebel coalition have broken terms of a peace deal and cease-fire reached earlier this month.

In a interview Wednesday with VOA's French to Africa Service, Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye said elements of the Seleka rebel alliance had entered towns and vandalized government buildings, violating the accord between the government and rebels.

"I regret these abuses made by some Seleka rebels and, by the way, Seleka itself acknowledged the situation and proposed sanctions for these rebels. Fortunately, I do not think this will have any consequence on the peace process and the stability of the country," he said.

A VOA reporter in the CAR says that in one incident, rebels broke into government buildings and damaged a prison in the town of Kembe.

In December, Seleka fighters launched an uprising that resulted in them seizing one-third of the country.

On January 11, the government and rebels agreed to a peace plan that allows President Francois Bozize to remain in power until his term ends in 2016.

Under the agreement, the president appointed Tiangaye, an opposition lawyer, as prime minister.

Neither the president nor the prime minister will be eligible to run in the 2016 presidential election.

Bozize has faced numerous rebellions since seizing power in a coup in 2003.

Seleka is made up of fighters from three rebel groups in the country's north. The alliance said President Bozize had failed to carry out previous peace agreements from 2007 and 2008.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.