- Central African Republic leader seeks international help
- There are indications the rebels may try to take the capital
- France has troops there, but says its mission is to protect its citizens
(CNN) -- The president of the Central African Republic on Thursday asked for help from the international community to stave off advances being made by rebels that threaten his rule.
The former French colony asked France and the United States to help ensure "the rebels return home...instead of destroying and killing Central Africans," President Francois Bozize said.
Amid indications that the rebels may try to take the capital, Bangui, organizations such as the United Nations have begun relocating dependents and nonessential staff.
"Fellow citizens, the time has come," Bozize said. The rebels "want to steal our country and we want to do (something) about it."
Read more: CNN Inside Africa
Attacks on several cities by the coalition of rebel groups known as "Seleka" undermine peace agreements in the Central African Republic; rebels say they are fighting because the government has broken promises.
The rebels are about 190 miles from Bangui, though no new attacks were reported since Wednesday, diplomatic adviser Honore Nzessiwe said.
The Central African Republic government is seeking negotiations with the rebels in Libreville, Gabon, he said. In the meantime, additional troops from the Central African Multinational Forces will arrive to bolster security in the capital, he said.
Bozize aimed his call for help to France, saying "the French are our cousins. They should fix what is happening."
France maintains a military presence in the country.
But French President Francois Hollande said Thursday that the troops are not intended to "protect a regime" against the advance of the rebels, but instead French nationals and interests.
France will "in no way to interfere in the internal affairs of a country, in this case CAR", Hollande said, insisting: "That time is over."
Asked about a possible intervention in favor of displaced persons or refugees, the French president said that his country could not "intervene unless there is a U.N. mandate," noting that "this is not the case. "
"But in general, we are always for civilians to be protected and preserved, and we will do our duty again," he said.
On Thursday, Bozize spoke with the French foreign minister about the crisis.
The French asked the Central African Republic leader to protect foreign nationals in his country. A day earlier, a protest at the French embassy calling for intervention in Bangui turned violent, with people throwing stones and pipes at the building.
On Thursday, protesters gathered in front of a U.N. building in the capital.
That is where Bozize made his remarks asking for foreign help, said Margaret Vogt, special representative of the U.N. secretary-general.
The president "addressed the crowd telling them he is ready for a dialogue," she said.
The desire for negotiation was reiterated in a statement released on behalf of Bozize by the Central African Republic foreign ministry.
Bozize has no intention to tinker with the constitution in order to remain in power, and wants to work within the framework of the document to negotiate a solution, the statement said.
CNN's Bharati Naik, Stephanie Halasz and Saskya Vandoorne contributed to this report.
