Two Killed in Fighting in Central African Capital
Two people died and two others were wounded in fighting between Seleka rebels and residents of the restive Central African capital Bangui, police said Friday.
Clashes broke out overnight Thursday following a hit-and-run incident in a northern suburb of the capital, in which a teenager died, the police source said.
A member of Seleka -- a rebel group which seized power of the country in a coup six weeks ago -- was in the vehicle that hit the 17-year-old, and fled the scene.
Angry local residents then "blocked roads in protest", the police source said.
"Seleka rebels who came back to retrieve the car and clear the road clashed with demonstrators, and the rebels opened fire, killing two people and wounding two others," the source said.
Central African Republic's new strongman Michel Djotodia, who carried out the bloody March 24 coup, later visited the scene.
The security situation in the already unstable nation remains volatile six weeks after Seleka ousted president Francois Bozize, with pillaging and sporadic attacks still not brought under control.
Violence flared in mid-April when a mob killed seven ex-rebels, just days after nearly 20 people died in clashes between Seleka fighters and residents.
On Wednesday the interim government called on French forces in Bangui to supports efforts by the regional peacekeeping force FOMAC to secure the capital and disarm rebels, the army and civilians.
The International Crisis Group said last week that Bangui "experienced bank robberies, killings, and systematic looting of private houses and ministries" with "at least 130 people reportedly killed by Seleka since the coup".
Civil servants are not being paid and Djotodia has said state coffers are empty.
FOMAC -- whose troops are due to be boosted from 500 to 2,000 men by the end of May -- is carrying out an operation dubbed "City Without Guns" in Bangui.
Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye has said no-one "will be allowed to carry a gun in the city of Bangui", whether national troops, militias or civilians, who were ordered to voluntarily hand over their arms.
The new transitional ruling body (CNT) set up to lead the country to democratic elections in 18 months is due by May 21 to set up its own regulations, adopt a transitional charter and pass a decree setting out an electoral code.
Source: Agence France Presse
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