Rebels in the Central African Republic captured two more towns overnight, Territorial Administration Minister Josue Binoua told Agence France Presse on Saturday.

"The rebels took two towns near Bambari," a town already under the control of the Seleka rebel coalition, Binoua said. "This shows their intent to wage war even during negotiations."

The prospect of a rebel takeover of the Central African capital Bangui dimmed Tuesday as the regional bloc sent troops to prop up the regime of President Francois Bozize and force peace talks.

With the Seleka rebel coalition threatening to march on the capital, Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville and Cameroon have each pledged 120 troops to join 400 Chadian soldiers already deployed by multinational African peacekeeping force FOMAC to protect the key town of Damara, according to a FOMAC source.

The United States evacuated its embassy in the Central African Republic on Thursday and temporarily halted its operations, amid security fears after rebels seized large swathes of the country.

The State Department said it had not broken off diplomatic ties with the beleaguered government in Bangui, but warned U.S. citizens not to travel to the mineral-rich but chronically unstable country while unrest continues.

The U.N. is evacuating staff from the Central African Republic and the U.S. has warned its citizens to leave as rebel fighters close in on the tense capital Bangui.

France also deployed troops to protect its embassy after it was attacked by demonstrators calling for the former colonial power to help push back the rebels who have already seized several towns in the north of the resource-rich but poverty-stricken nation.