Thousands flee to north Brazzaville

Humanitarian sources in Brazzaville estimated that about 10,000 residents of Bacongo and Makelekele had crossed into the northern part of the city where they were staying with families or in churches. Residents contacted by IRIN said a number of corpses were seen on the streets of southern Brazzaville, but casualty figures were not available. The city was without electricity or running water this morning for a third straight day. Some UN international staff members have crossed to Kinshasa, while AFP reported on Friday that France was considering evacuating its nationals from Brazzaville. A UNHCR spokesman said today that no refugee influx was reported from Brazzaville into Kinshasa over the weekend. Meanwhile, some stray shells from the Brazzaville fighting were reported to have fallen across the river in Kinshasa, but no injuries were reported, residents told IRIN.