UN humanitarian agencies are mobilising to help tens of thousands of people displaced by the violence of the failed 28 May coup attempt against President Ange-Felix Patasse in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital Bangui, a UN spokesman said.

As forces loyal to Central African Republic (CAR) President Ange-Felix Patasse surrounded remaining mutineers one week after a failed coup attempt in the capital Bangui, relief organisations issued urgent warnings of a looming humanitarian crisis.

With Central African Republic (CAR) government forces of President Ange-Felix Patasse back in "full control of the situation" in the capital, as confirmed by the French embassy in Bangui on Thursday, an increasing stream of residents who fled a failed coup attempt were returning to the city.

Central African Republic (CAR) dissident leader Andre Kolingba told mutinous soldiers on Thursday to lay down their arms after Libya and Congolese rebels came to the aid of President Ange-Felix Patasse. "I have agreed to stop the hostilities from this evening," Kolingba, who is Patasse's immediate predecessor, told Radio France Internationale. "I ask the mutinous soldiers to return to their respective residences."

Libyan soldiers arrived at Mpoko International Airport in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital Bangui Wednesday morning on two Russian cargo planes, offloading equipment and light armoured vehicles to reinforce troops loyal to President Ange-Felix Patasse in their effort to quash a coup, sources in the city told IRIN on Thursday.