Government troops backed by Congo militiamen expelled rebels from Bossembele (157 km from the capital), thereby ending weeks of occupation of that northwestern Central African Republic town. State-owned Radio Centrafrique said that five rebels were killed and many homes burnt, but that only a "few" government soldiers were wounded in the 26 November action. A French driver's license was also found there, which the government claims supports their suspicions that Caucasian mercenaries were among the rebels and Chadanian forces. The town straddles the 454-km Bouar-Bangui road, which links the CAR capital to the Cameroonian port of Douala. Government troops are still trying to secure the remaining rebel-occupied parts of the country. - Adam Geibel