The Seleka rebel coalition resumed hostilities this week in the mineral-rich former French colony, vowing to oust Bozize, whom it accused of breaking a January peace agreement to integrate its fighters into the army.
"The rebels control the town," said presidency spokesperson Gaston Mackouzangba. "I hope there will not be any reprisals."
Government spokesperson Crepin Mboli-Goumba said the Seleka rebels controlled all the strategic locations in the city.
A presidential advisor, who asked not to be named, said Bozize had crossed the Oubangi river into the DRC on Sunday morning as rebel forces headed for the presidential palace. Bozize had seized power in a 2003 military coup.
"The palace has just fallen. We have the palace," Eric Massi, a spokesperson for Seleka, told Reuters by telephone from Paris.
The rebels fought their way to the northern suburbs of the riverside capital late on Saturday before an overnight lull in the fighting. But residents said heavy weapons fire erupted across the city around 8 AM (7am GMT). – Reuters