The president of the Central African Republic has sacked his own son as defence minister for failing to stop the rebel advance on the country's capital Bangui.

President Francois Bozize has taken personal control over the defence portfolio from his son Jean Francis, and has also removed army chief of staff Guillaume Lapo.

Government spokesman Josue Binoua told the BBC that questions about poor results of the army in the past weeks could not be left unanswered.

He said a new army chief of staff should be named in the coming hours or days.

The decree was announced on state radio just after the rebel coalition said it would hold its positions and join peace talks in Gabon.

The Seleka rebel coalition's lightning three-week advance from the north of the country to within striking distance of the capital Bangui in the south raised fears of a spreading crisis in Central Africa.

Central African nations have begun sending reinforcements to Damara, the last major town between the rebels and the capital, to bolster the Central African Republic's army against the rebels.

The regional troops are fighting under the banner of multinational African force FOMAC, which was launched in 2008 by the Economic Community of Central African States in a bid to stabilise the coup- and rebellion-prone country

Rebel spokesman Eric Massi announced the rebels were ready to talk, saying: "I confirm that we have decided to suspend the offensive towards Bangui, and that we will send a delegation to Gabon to participate in peace talks."

BBC/AFP