20091224

BANGUI (Reuters) - A helicopter carrying Central African Republic's President Francois Bozize was forced to make an emergency landing in the jungle after a technical fault on Wednesday, but no one was hurt, his son said.

In a statement read out on national radio, Bozize's son Jean Francois Bozize, who is also minister for the presidency in charge of defence, said the president had been on a trip to his home village.

"Following a technical failure, the presidential helicopter had to make an emergency landing at around midday in a clearing, but without incident," the statement said.

It added that presidential guard and national armed forces were then called into the site, which lies about 242 km (150 miles) north of Bangui, to rescue the president.

"The Central African head of state and his entourage were returned to Bangui tonight in perfect health," it added.

Rich in gold, diamonds and uranium, CAR is one of Africa's most isolated states, where a weak government is struggling to contain both internal rebellions that still simmer despite peace deals and the spillover from violence in Chad and Sudan.