CAPE TOWN, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The South African government on Wednesday denied media reports that deposed president of the Central African Republic (CAR) Francois Bozize was expected to come to South Africa soon.
The denial came in response to a report by the Cape Town-based Eyewitness News on Tuesday that Bozize was in Nairobi, Kenya, en route to South Africa.
The report said there was no indication exactly when he was expected to arrive or what his agenda would be in South Africa.
In response to the report, South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Clayson Monyela said there was no truth in the report.
"I don't know where those reports come from," Monyela said.
Bozize was ousted after rebels took over Bangui in a coup in March, capital of the CAR.
Just days before he was ousted, Bozize was last seen on South African soil, according to Eyewitness News.
South Africa had supported the government led by Bozize with the deployment of about 200 peacekeeping troops in the war-torn country, providing the CAR's army with an array of military training, from infantry, artillery and special forces training to logistics and driving courses, as well as the refurbishment of military infrastructure in Bouar and Bangui.
Thirteen South African soldiers died in March while fighting alongside with Bozize troops outside Bangui when rebels made their final push to the capital, forcing Bozize into exile. The deaths prompted South Africa to withdraw its troops in April.
CAR issued an international arrest warrant for charges including 22 murders and 119 "summary executions" as well as numerous abductions and the destruction of nearly 4,000 homes.
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