Peacekeeping troops arrive in Central African Republic – in pictures

A Chadian soldier, part of the Central African Multinational Force (Fomac) dispatched to Central African Republic to support the government against Seleka rebels, observes the road ahead as troops head for Damara, about 75km north of the capital Bangui Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

Soldiers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo stand at ease after flying into Central African Republic. François Bozizé, the country's embattled president, has offered to form a unity government but has rejected rebel demands to step down Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

Soldiers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo carry equipment after touching down at an airport in Bangui. President Bozizé himself came to power in a rebellion, backed by Chad, in 2003 and has since relied on foreign military help to retain power Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

A Chadian soldier uses his scarf to keep out dust thrown up from the road as the military convoy to which he belongs makes its way to Damara. The Séléka coalition of rebel fighters consists of armed groups mostly originating from the north east Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

Soldiers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo collect their kit after arriving in Central African Republic. Rebel fighters have advanced to within 75km of Bangui since launching their assault on 10 December 2012 but are now participating in peace talks Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

Soldiers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo gather for inspection. UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has joined the security council in condemning the rebel attacks amid ongoing concern about the potential escalation of the conflict Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

A soldier runs to jump on a moving truck carrying Chadian soldiers. President Bozizé, who is prepared not to run for a third term in 2016, has been accused by the rebels of failing to honour the 2007 Birao peace pact and the 2008 Libreville agreement Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

Members of the Chadian military contingent ride on their trucks on the road to Damara. The deployment of the Fomac force has deterred the rebel advance, which stopped about 100km from Bangui pending peace talks in Gabon Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

A Chadian soldier deployed in support of President Bozizé, who has said that to step down would be to betray his country. 'That would betray the people who elected me,' said Bozizé. 'This is the defence of democracy, the defence of the constitution' Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

More than 30 truckloads of troops from Chad line the two-lane highway just outside of Damara Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

Chadian soldiers ride on a truck in a large convoy Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

Jean Felix Akaga, who heads the 10-nation Fomac force, inspects a contingent of troops from Gabon operating under the multinational central-African regional mandate, as they parade at their headquarters in Bangui Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP