Clashes erupt as militia enter Central African Republic capital

[muriel_volestrangler]

(Reuters) - Heavy and small arms fire rang out in the capital of Central African Republic on Thursday, the heaviest clashes in Bangui for months, hours before a U.N. vote is due to authorise a French mission to restore order.

Former rebels controlling the city scrambled fighters in the direction of the gunfire and said they had come under attack from local militia and fighters loyal to ousted President Francois Bozize. In the pre-dawn hours, panicked residents scrambled for safety.

The U.N. Security Council is due to vote later on Thursday on dispatching French reinforcements to restore order in the country, which has slipped into chaos since mainly Muslim rebels seized power in March, leading to tit-for-tat sectarian violence.

"There has been gunfire all over town," Amy Martin, head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Bangui, told Reuters.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/12/05/uk-centralafrican-fighting-idUKBRE9B405O20131205

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. At least 80 killed in fighting, as UN votes for French force

At least 80 people are believed to have been killed in fierce fighting on Thursday in the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), Bangui.

The city was reportedly attacked by supporters of Francois Bozize, who was ousted as president by rebels in March, plunging the country into chaos.

The UN Security Council has now voted to allow French troops to join an African peacekeeping force in the CAR.

About 10% of CAR's 4.6 million people have fled their homes, the UN says.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25240125

[JDPriestly]

2. Some history on this for others like me who are not very knowledgeable about the

Central African Republic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African_Republic

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. CAR death toll much higher than thought, says Amnesty

Former rebels in the Central African Republic killed almost 1,000 people in a two-day rampage this month, double an earlier UN estimate, Amnesty International has said.

The group says war crimes are being committed in CAR.
...
In its report, Amnesty said former Seleka rebels killed nearly 1,000 people in the capital, Bangui, in revenge for deadly Christian militia attacks.
...
In its report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that in the northern town of Bossangoa, Christian militias attacked Muslim communities, cutting the throats of children while forcing parents to watch.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25441511