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| Clashes Erupt in Capital of Central African Republic | |
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| DAKAR, Senegal — Fighting tore through parts of the capital of the Central African Republic on Thursday, hours before the United Nations Security Council voted to strengthen the international force that has been unable to quell the chaos there. | DAKAR, Senegal — Fighting tore through parts of the capital of the Central African Republic on Thursday, hours before the United Nations Security Council voted to strengthen the international force that has been unable to quell the chaos there. |
| Officials and citizens said some strategic locations in the capital, Bangui — 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. | Officials and citizens said some strategic locations in the capital, Bangui — 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. |
| An official with Doctors Without Borders, the medical relief organization, said that at least 50 people had been killed in the fighting, with 100 others wounded. Some other reports put the number of deaths around 100. | |
| The shooting began in the early hours Thursday, citizens said, but 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. The streets of Bangui were deserted, and the situation remained confused, with officials of the rebel government saying that their forces had regained control, and others saying that the antigovernment fighters appeared to have penetrated the capital’s outlying neighborhoods. | The shooting began in the early hours Thursday, citizens said, but 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. The streets of Bangui were deserted, and the situation remained confused, with officials of the rebel government saying that their forces had regained control, and others saying that the antigovernment fighters appeared to have penetrated the capital’s outlying neighborhoods. |
| The fighting was a sign of the heightened instability in the country since the rebels seized power in March. | 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 repeated 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, this year and replaced him with Michel Djotodia. | The Central African Republic, a landlocked country of 4.6 million in the heart of Africa, has been subjected to a repeated 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, 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 subjected the population to repeated and well-documented killings, arbitrary arrests and kidnappings. | Seleka, a mostly Muslim grouping in a largely Christian country, has exerted little authority over its own forces, which have subjected the population to repeated and well-documented killings, arbitrary arrests and kidnappings. |
| Militia groups — Christian, for the most part — have sprung up to oppose them, and the fighting Thursday appeared to be a calculated demonstration of force by Seleka’s opponents at a time when foreign powers were preparing to vote on a stronger intervention force. | Militia groups — Christian, for the most part — have sprung up to oppose them, and the fighting Thursday appeared to be a calculated demonstration of force by Seleka’s opponents at a time when foreign powers were preparing to vote on a stronger intervention force. |
| 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 United Nations Mission in the country. “I think it is well calculated. 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 United Nations Mission in the country. “I think it is well calculated. It is not just a coincidence.” |
| On Thursday, the Security Council unanimously voted to support the modest intervention force of more than 2,000 African Union troops that is already on the ground but has been unable to stem the fighting. The resolution asks world powers to donate to the effort, contributing funds to expand the African Union force to 3,600. | On Thursday, the Security Council unanimously voted to support the modest intervention force of more than 2,000 African Union troops that is already on the ground but has been unable to stem the fighting. The resolution asks world powers to donate to the effort, contributing funds to expand the African Union force to 3,600. |
| France has deployed hundreds of its own soldiers as well, and its contingent is expected to grow to 1,200. On Thursday, its president, François Hollande, said the increase would happen “within a few days, even a few hours,” The Associated Press reported. | France has deployed hundreds of its own soldiers as well, and its contingent is expected to grow to 1,200. On Thursday, its president, François Hollande, said the increase would happen “within a few days, even a few hours,” The Associated Press reported. |
| Still, the Council support for the current African force falls short of authorizing a United Nations peacekeeping force, which would have been far more expensive, and the total deployment is smaller than the 6,000 to 9,000 troops the United Nations secretary general had recommended. The Council resolution leaves open the possibility of deploying a full-fledged peacekeeping mission in the future, without specifying how much more violence would lead to a deployment of United Nations peacekeepers. | Still, the Council support for the current African force falls short of authorizing a United Nations peacekeeping force, which would have been far more expensive, and the total deployment is smaller than the 6,000 to 9,000 troops the United Nations secretary general had recommended. The Council resolution leaves open the possibility of deploying a full-fledged peacekeeping mission in the future, without specifying how much more violence would lead to a deployment of United Nations peacekeepers. |
| France, the country’s former colonial ruler, introduced the resolution and has been especially vociferous in warning of the potential for large-scale ethnic and sectarian violence. The memory of the massacres in Rwanda nearly 20 years ago plainly hangs over the crisis, and the statements of United Nations officials suggest that they are keen to avert a similar catastrophe. | France, the country’s former colonial ruler, introduced the resolution and has been especially vociferous in warning of the potential for large-scale ethnic and sectarian violence. The memory of the massacres in Rwanda nearly 20 years ago plainly hangs over the crisis, and the statements of United Nations officials suggest that they are keen to avert a similar catastrophe. |
| “History has taught us the worst may happen,” Gérard Araud, the French ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters after the Council meeting. “History has taught us the Security Council needs to act.” | “History has taught us the worst may happen,” Gérard Araud, the French ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters after the Council meeting. “History has taught us the Security Council needs to act.” |
| In recent weeks, United Nations officials have been invoking the prospect of genocide to draw attention to the Christian-versus-Muslim strife in the country, though they have been divided on how to arrest the bloodshed, including how much money to spend on it. | In recent weeks, United Nations officials have been invoking the prospect of genocide to draw attention to the Christian-versus-Muslim strife in the country, though they have been divided on how to arrest the bloodshed, including how much money to spend on it. |
| Human Rights Watch on Thursday called the Council resolution a “crucial step” toward addressing the crisis in the country. “However, this will only be a temporary fix and bolder steps are urgently needed,” the group said. | Human Rights Watch on Thursday called the Council resolution a “crucial step” toward addressing the crisis in the country. “However, this will only be a temporary fix and bolder steps are urgently needed,” the group said. |
| The American ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, on Thursday insisted that the resolution was the most efficient way to save lives, while leaving open the possibility of a larger United Nations force later. “We need to employ the option today that will halt the carnage in C.A.R. most quickly,” she said. | The American ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, on Thursday insisted that the resolution was the most efficient way to save lives, while leaving open the possibility of a larger United Nations force later. “We need to employ the option today that will halt the carnage in C.A.R. most quickly,” she 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 on 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.” | “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.” | 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.” |
Adam Nossiter reported from Dakar, and Somini Sengupta from San Francisco. | Adam Nossiter reported from Dakar, and Somini Sengupta from San Francisco. |