Tribal Warfare Breaks Out In Central African Republic
(BANGUI, Central African Republic, Monday, May 20, 1996, AP.) Frenchtroops moved into downtown Bangui on Sunday to help quell an army uprisingthat has killed at least three people.
Civilians hid in their homes as troops demanding control of the nationalarmory fought with presidential guards in the streets.
The mutinous soldiers took at least six people linked to the governmentas hostages.
In Paris, Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Bouchard said the Frenchsoldiers were only protecting the 2,500 French citizens in Bangui and didnot plan to intervene in the conflict. But their presence on the streetsdrove rebels out of the downtown area that they had held Saturday, and onSunday French soldiers with tanks were stationed outside government buildingsand along key roads across the city.
Hospitals reported that two civilians and two rebels had been killed inclashes. At least 50 civilians were wounded.
The uprising, which began Saturday, was the second in two months in thislandlocked, impoverished country.
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