BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) -  Officials from Central African Republic's neighbors say they have agreed to dispatch a contingent of soldiers to intervene in the troubled country.

Representatives from the 10-nation Economic Community of Central African States meeting in Gabon, though, did not specify how many troops they could contribute.

The announcement also did not outline how quickly the military assistance would arrive in the country where rebels are threatening to overthrow the president of nearly a decade.

President Francois Bozize had pleaded for international help Thursday as fears grew that the rebels would attack the capital of 600,000 next.

Former colonial power France already has said that its forces in the country are there to protect French interests and not Bozize's government.

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