French tanks dispatched to Bangui airport amid gunfire
Iran Press TV
Wed Dec 25, 2013 4:11PM GMT
Around a dozen French tanks have been sent to the airport of the Central African Republic's capital amid intense gunfire in the neighboring areas.
A journalist working for AFP said the tanks took positions at around 4:15 p.m. (1515 GMT) at the entrance to Bangui airport on Wednesday, after automatic weapons fire and blasts rocked several parts of the city.
The heavy machine gun firing was particularly intense in the nearby PK12 area and hundreds of residents could be seen escaping the region towards central Bangui.
France invaded the Central African Republic on December 5 after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution giving the African Union and France the go-ahead to send troops to the country. Paris currently has around 1,600 soldiers deployed to the Central African Republic.
Muslims in the Central African Republic took to streets of the capital on December 24 to demand the departure of French troops from the violence-hit country.
Many believe the French troops, known as the Sangaris, target Muslims and turn a blind eye on Christian militia, an accusation that French Foreign Ministry spokesman Vincent Floreani has rejected, saying the French force contributed to "disarming of all armed groups, without distinction."
The Central African Republic spiraled into chaos in March when the Seleka fighters overthrew President Francois Bozizé and brought Michel Djotodia to power. Bozizé fled the country after his ouster.
On September 13, Djotodia dissolved the Seleka coalition. Some of the rebels later joined the country's regular army while some defied.
There are many mineral resources, including gold and diamond, in the Central African Republic.
MR/SS
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
