The ex-president of the Central African Republic has denied, through his spokesman, that he is plotting a coup.
On Saturday, the government accused Francois Bozize of marching with a rebel alliance on the capital, Bangui, a week before a general election.
But spokesperson Christian Guenebem said he was in his house in Bossangoa.
“If, in the minds of some men in armed groups he represents an alternative, that’s not François Bozizé’s fault”, he said.
“Perhaps it’s the fault of those who have failed to offer a credible alternative.”
Tensions rose after Bozize’s candidacy for next week’s national elections was rejected by the country’s highest court.
The UN said on Friday it had deployed peacekeeping forces to the country.
President Faustin Archange Touadera has insisted the poll will go ahead, saying the presence of the army and the UN peacekeepers means people have nothing to fear.
However, opposition parties, including that of Bozize, have called for the vote to be postponed “until the re-establishment of peace and security”.
Rebel groups have seized several towns close to the country’s capital, clashing with government forces and looting property, and the UN said its troops were working to prevent a blockade of Bangui.
“We categorically deny that Bozizé is at the origin of anything,” said Gueneben.
Bozize came into power after a coup in 2003 and subsequently won two elections that were widely seen as fraudulent. He was ousted in 2013 by the Seleka – a rebel coalition drawn largely from the Muslim minority – which accused him of breaking peace agreements.
