Central African Republic: Conflict

Fighting has broken out in Bangui between rival armed factions.

On November 3rd and 4th, there were armed clashes in the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui, between soldiers loyal to president Ange-Felix Patasse and a rival group supporting a former army general, Francois Bozize, dismissed from his post in October.

BBC sources in Bangui confirmed that the Libyan troops forming the Presidential bodyguard were involved. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi sent the contingent of Libyan troops to the Central African Republic in May after an attempted coup had destabilised the country.

The United Nations representative in Bangui, General Lamine Cisse, is trying to broker a ceasefire. The Central African Republic has witnessed periodic scenes of violence since the country gained its independence from France in 1960.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru