OVER 100 KILLED IN CAR FIGHTING IN LAST 10 DAYS

Bangui, 7 Rajab 1435/6 May 2014 (MINA) – Over 100 people have been killed over the past 10 days during fighting between rival factions in the Central African Republic (CAR).

According to reports released on Monday, most of the victims of clashes between Seleka Muslims and anti-Balaka Christian militias were civilians.

A new wave of violence erupted on Thursday in the Mala region, north of the capital Bangui, and some other areas near the country’s northern border with Chad, Press TV reported as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

A military official said in the past “several days”, some 55 people were murdered near the town of Paoua, while another 20 people perished near Markounda, both located near the neighboring Chad.

The African state has been the scene of fierce clashes between the Seleka group and anti-Balaka militias since late 2013, when anti-Balaka militants stormed the capital in an attempt to overthrow the government.

Thousands of Muslims have been killed and nearly a million have been made homeless in the clashes.

The United Nations has described the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Muslims as “ethnic cleansing.”

Muslims have advocated calls for the establishment of a new state to be located in the north of the country. Many in the CAR Muslim community have stated that partition is the best and simplest solution to the threat of violence from Christian militiamen in the country’s south.

France has deployed 2,000 troops to the country, but it has been unable to halt the deadly attacks on the country’s Muslim population.

The violence is escalating day by day despite the presence of French and African troops on the ground in the country. (T/P04/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)