BBC News, Dec. 27, 2012

The US says it has evacuated its embassy in the Central African Republic as rebels threaten to advance towards the capital, Bangui. The state department said it had not broken off diplomatic ties with the government but warned US citizens not to travel to CAR during the unrest.

Earlier, CAR President Francois Bozize appealed to the US and France to help block the rebel advance.

The UN has said it is evacuating its non-essential staff from the country. US state department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said the embassy had suspended operations and that the ambassador and other staff had left the country on Thursday. "This decision is solely due to concerns about the security of our personnel and has no relation to our continuing and long-standing diplomatic relations with the CAR," he said in a statement.

The BBC's Junior Lingangue in Bangui says resident are stockpiling food amid fears that the rebels - known as the Seleka coalition - could launch an assault in the next few days.[....]

Also see:

Rebels Are Advancing Toward Capital of Central African Republic
By Lydia Polgreen and Josh Kron, New York Times, Dec 27/28, 2012