New Central African Republic president declares 'war' on Christian militia mobs
Catherine Samba-Panza, first female president of the beleaguered African country, says she will 'go to war' against Christians slaughtering Muslims. UN and Amnesty International says dire situation is 'ethnic cleansing.'
NEW YORK DAILY NEWSThursday, February 13, 2014, 5:32 PM
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
Christian vigilantes gather Thursday in the Central African Republic capital of Bangui, where their self-proclaimed leader, Richard Bejouane, warned President Catherine Samba-Panza against attacking them.
As thousands flee amid looting and murder, the new and first female president of the Central African Republic vowed to hunt down bloodthirsty gangs of Christians who have been lynching and beating to death terrified Muslims.
"They think that because I'm a woman, I'm weak," Catherine Samba-Panza said in a speech this week.
"But now the (militias) who want to kill will be themselves hunted," she vowed Wednesday, according to the BBC.
The UN and Amnesty International says widespread destruction and the targeting of Muslims by rampaging Christian groups constitutes ethnic cleansing.
RELATED: EMERGENCY FOODLIFT ARRIVES IN CAR, MASS GRAVES FOUND
Tons of food aid was delivered earlier this week in the capital of Bangui, but it not enough to feed nearly 25 percent of the population who have fled their homes seeking safety and have congregated in massive refugee camps.
More than 7,000 troops from the African Union and France are on the ground in the former French colony. On Tuesday, Samba-Panza asked for UN peacekeeping forces.
"They think that because I'm a woman, I'm weak," Catherine Samba-Panza said in a speech this week.
"But now the (militias) who want to kill will be themselves hunted," she vowed Wednesday, according to the BBC.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL / HANDOUT/EPA
This Amnesty International photo shows homeless Muslims on the run from attacking Christian vigilantes who are looting their homes and killing families. Thousands have died since the Muslim majority government collapsed in January.
RELATED: EMERGENCY FOODLIFT ARRIVES IN CAR, MASS GRAVES FOUND
Tons of food aid was delivered earlier this week in the capital of Bangui, but it not enough to feed nearly 25 percent of the population who have fled their homes seeking safety and have congregated in massive refugee camps.
More than 7,000 troops from the African Union and France are on the ground in the former French colony. On Tuesday, Samba-Panza asked for UN peacekeeping forces.
French soldiers storm a house Tuesday in Bangui, Central African Republic, where arms were stored by Christian vigilantes. French troop commander General Francisco Soriano called the militia members ‘enemies of the peace.’
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/central-african-republic-president-declares-war-christian-mobs-article-1.1613754#ixzz2tSV1O3pU
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