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One dead in clashes between UN peacekeepers and protesters in CAR

Xinhua, April 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

One person was killed and several others were wounded in clashes on Friday between UN peacekeepers and protesters in Kaga-Bandoro, northwest of Central African Republic (CAR), the UN said in a statement issued in CAR capital Bangui.

"Around 300 to 400 protesters attacked UN peacekeeping mission camp in Kaga-Bandoro, 342 km away from Bangui, on Friday," the statement said.

"The peacekeepers tried to stop the protesters who wanted to force inside the camp. The protesters threw knives at the peacekeepers, wounding several of them," the statement said.

The statement said the UN peacekeepers had to fire warning shots to repel the attackers. However, the interim report said one protester was killed and several others were injured in the incident.

"All the injured were admitted to hospital in Kaga-Bandoro where they receive treatment," said the statement, but without mentioning the reason of the incident, merely saying an investigation is going on.

In Bangui, the transitional government contacted by Xinhua like Minister of Public Security Narcissus Karnou avoided to speak on the incident.

Kaga-Bandoro along with Bria and Bambari are three major bases of UN peacekeeping troops in CAR. Kaga-Bandoro is also a major stronghold of former rebel Seleka, which is now divided into several factions.

According to Colonel Juma Narkoyo, spokesman for one of these factions of former rebel Seleka, the incident on Friday showed the anger of Christian farmer towards UN peacekeepers from Pakistan who destroyed their fields. Juma said calm has returned to the city.

A civil war in CAR broke out on Dec. 10, 2012 between Seleka rebel coalition and government forces. Seleka took power from then president Francois Bozize in March 2013 and the rebel's leader Michel Djotodia declared himself as president.

Elected provisional president by a National Transitional Council in April 2013, Djotodia was forced to quit power in January this year amid worsening violence between Christian anti- balaka group and Muslim Seleka. Catherine Samba-Panza was elected as provisional president by the National Transitional Council. Endi