Bangui (Fides Service) - Fighting which broke out on October 25 when rebels launched a coup in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, continues. From Chad General Bozize, author of an unsuccessful coup last year, has claimed responsibility for this new rebel attack. A local sources tells Fides Service: "The attempted coup came as a total surprise, because Chad and Central Africa recently reached an agreement, mediated by President Bongo of Gabon: Chad promised to expel Bozize and in exchange Central Africa said it would refuse entry to all Chad opposition groups. The permanence of respective opposition groups in Bangui and Ndjamena was a motive of tension between the neighbour countries." The unsuccessful coup last year stemmed from malcontent in the army, which has demanded more pay for years. Last year's coup was put down thanks to intervention of troops from Libya. Since then Tripoli has a battalion in Bangui which again on this occasion suffocated the attempted coup. (Fides Service 28/10/2002)