THE man who ruled the Central African Republic as it disintegrated into near-anarchy has gone into exile in Benin, as overnight violence in the country's capital left at least four people dead.

Rebel leader and interim president Michel Djotodia arrived in the west African nation yesterday on board a plane lent by the president of Chad.

Djotodia seized power in CAR last year, but on Friday he agreed to step aside amid mounting international pressure. More than 1000 people were killed in December alone as bloodshed erupted along religious faultlines.