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Heavy Fighting Reported in Central African Republic Heavy Fighting Reported in Central African Republic
(about 2 hours later)
DAKAR, Senegal — Gunfire, at times heavy, was heard Thursday morning in Bangui, the capital of the chaotic Central African Republic, on the eve of a United Nations vote about authorizing a larger force there. Officials and citizens said some strategic locations in the city — a military camp, the neighborhood around the airport and an opposition district — appeared to have come under sustained assault from forces opposed to the rebel coalition that seized power in the country earlier this year.DAKAR, Senegal — Gunfire, at times heavy, was heard Thursday morning in Bangui, the capital of the chaotic Central African Republic, on the eve of a United Nations vote about authorizing a larger force there. Officials and citizens said some strategic locations in the city — a military camp, the neighborhood around the airport and an opposition district — appeared to have come under sustained assault from forces opposed to the rebel coalition that seized power in the country earlier this year.
The shooting began in the early hours Thursday but had tapered off by midmorning, citizens said. The streets of Bangui were deserted and no vehicles were circulating on the capital’s dilapidated roads, apart from occasional patrols by the small French military force in the city and the rebel coalition’s pickups.The shooting began in the early hours Thursday but had tapered off by midmorning, citizens said. The streets of Bangui were deserted and no vehicles were circulating on the capital’s dilapidated roads, apart from occasional patrols by the small French military force in the city and the rebel coalition’s pickups.
An official with Doctors Without Borders, a French humanitarian organization, told The Associated Press that at least 16 had been killed in the fighting. Sylvain Groulx, the head of mission for the aid group, said the toll included only victims taken to two hospitals, The A.P. reported. An official with Doctors Without Borders, the French humanitarian organization, told The Associated Press that at least 16 people had been killed in the fighting. Sylvain Groulx, the head of mission for the aid group, said the toll included only victims taken to two hospitals, The A.P. reported.
By midmorning, the attackers appeared to have been pushed back from the neighborhood of the National Assembly, at the edge of an area fiercely opposed to the ruling rebel coalition.By midmorning, the attackers appeared to have been pushed back from the neighborhood of the National Assembly, at the edge of an area fiercely opposed to the ruling rebel coalition.
But the situation remained confused, with officials of the rebel government saying that their forces had regained control, while others said that the antigovernment fighters had appeared to have penetrated into the capital’s outlying neighborhoods. But the situation remained confused, with officials of the rebel government saying their forces had regained control, and others saying the antigovernment fighters had appeared to have penetrated into the capital’s outlying neighborhoods.
The fighting Thursday was a sign of the heightened instability in the country since the rebels seized power in March. The Central African Republic, a landlocked country of 4.6 million in the heart of Africa, has been subjected to a seemingly endless cycle of coups, countercoups and rebellions. The fighting was a sign of the heightened instability in the country since the rebels seized power in March. The Central African Republic, a landlocked country of 4.6 million in the heart of Africa, has been subjected to a seemingly endless cycle of coups, countercoups and rebellions.
But the situation has worsened since the rebel group known as Seleka, or alliance, chased out the president, François Bozizé, earlier this year and replaced him with Michel Djotodia. Seleka, a mostly Muslim grouping in a largely Christian country, has exerted little authority over its own forces, which have since subjected the population to repeated and well-documented killings, arbitrary arrests and kidnappings.But the situation has worsened since the rebel group known as Seleka, or alliance, chased out the president, François Bozizé, earlier this year and replaced him with Michel Djotodia. Seleka, a mostly Muslim grouping in a largely Christian country, has exerted little authority over its own forces, which have since subjected the population to repeated and well-documented killings, arbitrary arrests and kidnappings.
Militia groups have sprung up to oppose them — Christian, for the most part — and the fighting Thursday appeared to be a calculated demonstration of force by Seleka’s opponents as the United Nations Security Council prepared to vote on whether to authorize a heightened intervention. It seemed likely that some of those fighting Thursday were loyalists of Mr. Bozizé, according to observers in Bangui.Militia groups have sprung up to oppose them — Christian, for the most part — and the fighting Thursday appeared to be a calculated demonstration of force by Seleka’s opponents as the United Nations Security Council prepared to vote on whether to authorize a heightened intervention. It seemed likely that some of those fighting Thursday were loyalists of Mr. Bozizé, according to observers in Bangui.
France, the former colonial ruler, has been especially vociferous in warning of the potential for large-scale ethnic and sectarian violence as exasperation with Seleka’s chaotic rule has increased. France is seeking to add 1,000 troops to the 400-strong force already guarding the airport in Bangui.France, the former colonial ruler, has been especially vociferous in warning of the potential for large-scale ethnic and sectarian violence as exasperation with Seleka’s chaotic rule has increased. France is seeking to add 1,000 troops to the 400-strong force already guarding the airport in Bangui.
Seleka’s opponents have “chosen this moment to say we’re here, and you’ve got to reckon with us,” said Renner Onana, an official with the substantial United Nations mission in the country. “I think it is well calculated,” said Mr. Onana. “It is not just a coincidence.” Seleka’s opponents have “chosen this moment to say, ‘We’re here, and you’ve got to reckon with us,’ ” said Renner Onana, an official with the substantial United Nations mission in the country.
Prosper Ndouba, a top adviser to Mr. Djotodia, the president backed by Seleka, said he was certain that Mr. Bozizé was behind the attacks Thursday. “It’s Bozizé's partisans. They have always been in some of the neighborhoods,” Mr. Ndouba said. “It’s calmed down now,” he added. “The situation has stabilized.” “I think it is well calculated,” Mr. Onana said. “It is not just a coincidence.”
Mr. Onana of the United Nations said that the identities of those who struck in Bangui was unclear, which added to the menace for the government. “What’s certain is there is an armed opposition. This is a country that has been completely given over to massacres and arrests since March,” he said. Prosper Ndouba, a top adviser to Mr. Djotodia, the president backed by Seleka, said he was certain that Mr. Bozizé was behind the attacks Thursday. “It’s Bozizé's partisans,” Mr. Ndouba said. “They have always been in some of the neighborhoods.
“It’s calmed down now,” he added. “The situation has stabilized.”
Mr. Onana said the identities of those who struck in Bangui were unclear, which added to the menace for the government. “What’s certain is there is an armed opposition,” he said. “This is a country that has been completely given over to massacres and arrests since March.”