This sound good news for Central African Republic Peace talk

Central African Republic government officials, rebels to hold talks amid unrest Central African Republic rebels and government officials will meet early next week for talks, a minister said Saturday, after a spate of violence that has left the fate of the inland African nation in limbo. The upcoming discussions will be in Gabon, on Africa's western coast, said theCentral African Republic's Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization Josue Binoua. He did not specify the date when the discussions would begin. Central African Republic diplomatic adviser Honore Nzessiwe had indicated Thursday thatthe government was then trying to arrange a meeting with rebel leaders in Libreville, Gabon. The development comesas officials from various nations take steps to protect their citizens and interests inthe Central African Republic, amid fears of more violence. U.S. President Barack Obama wrote a letter Saturday to Congress informing them that about 50 U.S. troops were sent to Chad on Thursday "to support the evacuation of U.S. embassy personnel andU.S. citizens from the Central African Republic." "Although equipped for combat, this stand-by security force was deployed solely for the purpose of protecting U.S. citizens and property, if necessary," Obama wrote. The rebels were reported earlier this week to be about 190 miles from Bangui. But there's been a lull in rebel attacks in recent days, which Margaret Vogt, a special representative of the U.N. secretary-general,said might be evidence that they are respecting an earlier promise to halt their advance on the capital. The volatile situation -- which has spurred demonstrations in Bangui, the country's capital and largest city, urging foreign intervention amid concerns rebels could soon enter the city -- prompted government authorities to set an 8 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) curfew Sunday, Binoua said. Already, the lingering unrest has prompted the United Nations to relocate dependents and nonessential staff from the country and the U.S. Embassy in Bangui to shut down operations. The U.S. State Department said Thursday -- the same day U.S. troops were sent to Chad -- its ambassador and diplomatic team left the capital, but that the United States is not cutting off diplomatic relations with the turbulent African nation. Read more: U.S. diplomats leave Central African Republic