President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday dismissed claims that South African troops deployed in restive Central Africa were protecting private business interests as "conspiracy theories."<br />Zuma is facing anger at home after 13 soldiers were killed and 27 wounded as rebels in the Central African Republic carried out a bloody coup a little over a week ago.<br />South Africa's heaviest military loss since apartheid has raised questions about the nature of the deployment, and prompted the opposition to demand an immediate pull out of the troops.<br />But at a memorial service for the soldiers, Zuma said his critics were "peddling various unfounded allegations and conspiracy theories."<br />"We reject any insinuation that these soldiers were sent to the CAR for any reason other than in pursuit of the national interest and the interests of the African continent.<br />"Our national servicemen died for a worthy cause. They died in defence of the country's foreign policy," said Zuma.
