CAR president 'will share power'

The chairman of the African Union arrives in Central African Republic to a warm welcome three weeks into an armed rebellion that's swept the nation.

Thomas Yayi Boni touched down in Bangui on Sunday for talks with the republic's president Francois Bozize.

The meeting appeared to yield results as Bozize announced he was ready to share power with the rebellion leaders.

SOUNDBITE: FRANCOIS BOZIZE, CAR PRESIDENT, SAYING (French):

"Following this meeting we will surely be able to put in place a national unity government to manage this country which has suffered so much."

The alliance of three armed rebels groups has largely swept aside government defences.

The rebels accuse Bozize of failing to honour a 2007 deal to pay their members for laying down their arms.

Bozize, who was himself swept to power in an uprising nine years ago, is pledging not to stand for re-election in 2016.

He also says he's ready for peace talks being organised by regional leaders, without preconditions.