Bangui, Central African Republic ? Americans were evacuated early today with coup forces reportedly in control of roads out of the Central African Republic capital. Fears of new fighting ran high in the tense city as it ran short of food.

A U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo plane carried out more than two dozen people U.S. Embassy workers, other Americans, and other foreign nationals, Lt. Col. Pat Barnes said at U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.

“Everyone who wanted to leave was able to do so,” Barnes said.

Authorities had estimated there were about 150 Americans in the Central African Republic, most of them missionaries.

A former French colony rich in diamonds, gold and uranium, Central African Republic has weathered nine coups or coup attempts since independence in 1960.

The latest uprising came Oct. 25, when backers of former army chief Francois Bozize launched an offensive that closed to within two blocks of President Ange-Felix Patasse’s residence.

Residents said Libyan soldiers sent by Moammar Gadhafi in 2001 to prop up Patasse, and a pro-Patasse rebel group from neighboring Congo, had conducted most of the city’s defense.

The Central African Republic’s own army is small, restive and poorly equipped.

Bozize’s coup forces withdrew from Bangui at midweek, and Patasse’s government claimed to have defeated the takeover attempt.

However, travelers arriving in the city and police said Saturday that coup forces appeared to be holding at least some of the four main roads out of Bangui, as well as controlling the western city of Boali.

Central African Republic has blamed the coup attempt in part on Chad, where Bozize has spent most of his time since fleeing after another alleged coup attempt in November 2001. Chad denies responsibility.