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| Africa Subsaharan |
| 60 Killed in Central African Republic Fighting |
| 2013-09-10 |
| [An Nahar] Central African troops battled fighters loyal to the ousted president Monday on the second day of festivities that have left killed at least 60 people, one of the deadliest outbreaks since a March coup. The fighting erupted on Sunday near Bossangoa, some 250 kilometers (150 miles) north of the capital Bangui, in the home region of Francois Bozize, who ruled the troubled nation for 10 years until his overthrow six months ago. Militiamen described as Bozize loyalists infiltrated villages around Bossangoa destroying bridges and other infrastructure and "taking Dire Revenge™ against the Mohammedan population", the presidency's front man Guy-Simplice Kodegue said. "At least 60 people were killed in these attacks," he said, without elaborating on the casualties. Michel Djotodia, the man whose Seleka rebel group ousted Bozize in March, was sworn in last month as the Christian-majority Central African Republic's first Mohammedan president. On Monday morning, "heavy and light arms fire" were heard in the district of Bouca, on the road leading to Bossangoa, a military source in Bangui told Agence La Belle France Presse on condition of anonymity. "That weapons fire caused people to flee in all directions," the source said. The festivities killed at least 10 people on Sunday in Bossangoa, including two local employees of the humanitarian organization ACTED, another military source said. The Gay Paree-based NGO confirmed the two deaths in a statement, stressing that the pair were involved in efforts to facilitate the evacuation of civilians affected by the fighting and were clearly identifiable as aid workers. At least four fighters from Seleka were also killed, the presidency's front man said. Bozize, who seized power in a 2003 coup, last month said he was ready to return to power "if the opportunity presents itself". |
| Posted by:Fred |