BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP), Friday March 21, 2003 7:10 AM - The leader of rebels who captured this coup-prone African nation's capital has asked his fighters to hand over their weapons to troops from neighboring Chad, prompting the insurgents to accuse their leader of betraying them.

Former army chief Gen. Francois Bozize's fighters took over Bangui last weekend as President Ange-Felix Patasse visited Niger, sparking days of looting. About 100 Chadian troops flew into the city on Wednesday to restore order at Bozize's request.

The Chadian soldiers said Thursday that Bozize had given them the orders for disarm his fighters.

Loulou Rodrigue, a self-described rebel mercenary, stood with other insurgents near an armored vehicle after Chadian soldiers in red berets relieved them of their weapons.

``They took all the guns we have, even the pistols,'' he said. ``What a surprise. Bozize could have asked us to return the guns. He shouldn't have told the Chadians to take them from us.''

The soldiers told insurgents to report to military barracks for payment and dismissal, or integration into the Central African Republic's mutiny-prone army.

Many rebels complained that Bozize had always planned to shunt them aside, even after they fought to install him in power.

Bozize's fighters attacked the capital on Saturday and quickly captured the city's airport, causing Patasse to fly to Yaounde, Cameroon, where he remained Thursday.

By Sunday evening, Bangui had fallen to the rebels and Bozize had suspended Central African Republic's constitution and parliament, naming himself president.

For days, citizens and Patasse's presidential guards looted the city's downtown while bandits robbed homes at gunpoint in the suburbs.

While the pillaging has largely subsided, banks, schools and government offices remained shuttered on Thursday.

Six fresh corpses lay outside Bangui's national stadium. Rebel soldiers guarding the stadium said they arrested and executed the men for attempting to rob the nearby post office and violating the dusk-to-dawn curfew.

``They were well-armed, but we disarmed them and shot them before dawn,'' said one rebel soldier, who refused to give his name.

At least 50 people have been killed since the weekend attack began.

Bozize - who has promised a transitional government then elections - met with members of opposition groups and civic organizations, state radio reported.

``We should without delay set up ... a government well-accepted by the people, composed of honest and hardworking elements who know what a government is,'' Bozize said on national radio, without providing details.

Central African Republic - a country of about 3.6 million people that is rich in gold, diamonds and uranium - has been plagued by military revolts and other uprisings since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Patasse, elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1999, has been accused by opponents of rampant corruption, and his rule has been increasingly divisive.