Troops restore calm in northern suburb

Calm returned to a northern suburb of the Central African Republic (CAR) capital, Bangui, on Friday after troops stormed the area to remove barricades and disperse groups of youths wielding sticks, machetes and axes. "Ill-intentioned people intoxicated the population, saying we would send MLC [Mouvement de liberation du Congo] troops to stay in a school in that neighbourhood, and this prompted the people to riot", Xavier Yangongo, the deputy minister of defence, told IRIN. Youths erected barricades across Koudoukou Avenue, a major road in the suburb of Malimaka, on Thursday, following rumours that MLC rebels from the Democratic Republic of the Congo would be stationed at Malimaka School, a witness said. MLC troops have been in the CAR since October to help President Ange-Felix Patasse put down a revolt by former soldiers loyal to the renegade army chief of staff, Gen Francois Bozize. The MLC fighters have been blamed for widespread rapes and looting in the northern suburbs, leading to heightened anti-Congolese feelings. Late on Thursday, shots rang out in Bangui, sending panic-stricken residents running for cover. Intensive machine-gun fire soon dispersed the youths manning the barricades, some whom were from the other northern suburbs of Miskine, Moustapha and Ngouciment. Koudoukou Avenue was calm on Friday, but strewn with burnt tyres and cars. No casualties have so far been reported. A similar incident took place early in December in another suburb when a car driven by MLC fighters knocked down pedestrians. The government has called on the public to desist from attacking the MLC troops and given assurances that the public will be protected.