Tensions high in Central African Republic after nighttime lynching

2013-12-22 141

A lynching of a Seleka colonel overnight raises tensions in the chaotic capital of the Central African Republic.

French troops and Muslim Seleka rebels are patrolling one of the main roads in Bangui.

Residents, though, say they've been left in the dark.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) MARIEN, RESIDENT OF COMBATTANT NEIGHBORHOOD, SAYING:

"The Seleka barricaded the road, and they said "no" to the French army. And at this moment in time the French army is 300 meters from the Seleka coalition and they haven't done anything yet. We are afraid. We are afraid and we don't know what's going on at the moment."

Seleka rebels blame the lynching on the Christian militia anti-Balaka.

Recent violence has been heard in the city's PK12 neighborhood and beyond.

It wasn't immediately clear who started the fighting, or how many people were injured overnight.

One resident says the Seleka rebels started shooting to scare the population.

(SOUNDBITE)(French) PATRICK