BANGUI: Sporadic gunfire, loud explosions and street murders shook Central African Republic yesterday, despite the efforts of African and French peacekeepers, who are awaiting reinforcements from a European force.
The continuing unrest came as a diplomat said that French forces had on Tuesday killed around 10 fighters from the mainly Muslim Seleka group.
Tuesday’s clash took place outside a military barracks in the capital Bangui, added the source, who did not wish to be identified.
The French army came under fire and responded with cannon fire from a light armoured vehicle, the diplomat said, adding that there were no losses on the French side.
Violence continued yesterday, with a brief outburst of automatic gunfire late morning in the commercial heart of Bangui, which caused the local population to flee.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties from the fighting between opposing Christian and Muslim militias, according to residents.
However, fighting in other parts of the city left at least two dead.
Journalists witnessed the killing of a young Muslim by Christian militiamen armed with knives and machetes, despite the efforts of French troops to save him.
Only a few hundred metres away, a young Christian was killed by a civilian, said one witness, who identified himself as Benjamin.
There were also reports of looting.
The violence came a day after the United Nations handed European troops the mandate to use “all necessary force” to protect civilians caught up between Muslim and Christian groups in the war-torn country.
AFP
