Bangui (Fides Service) - The twenty five missionaries who were blocked in the northern rebel controlled region of Central Africa, have reached safety in Chad at Sarh. The news was confirmed to Fides by local sources. "They have already left Sarh for Ndjamena, the capital of Chad and they are well although exhausted physically. Three Capuchin missionaries chose to remain and carry on with their missionary work in Central Africa. The situation is still tense and dangerous. Rebel groups continue to loot and sack homes, state owned buildings, farms, not sparing even missions, parishes and hospitals. Missions have been robbed of everything, furniture, means of transport.
"In the north fighting has never stopped" Fides Service sources report. "The positive news is that Bishop Paulin Pomodimo president of the Bishops' Conference has been asked by the government to mediate peace talks." The crisis in Central African Republic broke out in October when a coup led by former Army chief Francois Bozize failed. His troops who came through Chad were beaten back by the army with the help of Libyan soldiers. The rebels groups, which include mercenaries from Chad and Sudan, have taken vast areas of the north eastern region of the country. Besides sacking and looting they also recruit very young boys."