South African Troops Should Have Been Withdrawn - SANDU

Photo: HDPTCAR

Rebel soldiers (file photo).

Johannesburg ? President Jacob Zuma should have withdrawn South African troops when Central African Republic president Francois Bozize failed to honour a peace agreement, the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) said on Monday.

"The president... should have withdrawn our troops at the very moment Bozize dishonoured his obligations in this respect," Sandu national secretary Pikkie Greeff said in a statement.

Greeff called on Zuma to withdraw troops with "immediate effect".

On Sunday the SA National Defence Force said South African soldiers were killed and injured during the clashes in the CAR.

"There were some casualties from both sides," Brig-Gen Xolani Mabanga said.

Some media reported that at least six South African soldiers had died.

President Bozize fled the capital early on Sunday after hundreds of armed rebels threatening to overthrow him took control of Bangui, the Associated Press reported.

Meanwhile, the SA Security Forces Union (Sasfu) said South Africa had a responsibility to deploy its military to help enforce peace on the continent.

"The decision by the president to deploy SANDF troops to CAR as requested by the government of that country cannot have been a wrong decision," said Sasfu president Bheki Mvovo.

He said the union would await the report on what support had been provided for South African soldiers on the ground.

"If anybody was ignorant in that regard, tough action should be taken."

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201303251296.html

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