Central African Republic taken over in Army coup

The Army seized power in the Central African Republic Tuesday in an apparently bloodless coup, and President David Dacko turned the government over to the military chief of staff, Gen. Andre Kolingba, diplomatic reports reaching Paris said.

French officials said the 1,500 French troops in the country had been ordered to reamin on their bases and "would not intervene other than to protect French citizens." French forces have been in the counry since a 1979 coup, in which they helped overthrow the self-proclaimed emperor, Jean Bedel Bokassa.