Insecurity in Central African Republic as rebels nix constitution

 

As the self-proclaimed president of the Central African Republic (CAR) has suspended the constitution, hospitals in the country's capital are devoid of medical staff and civilians are staying indoors even if wounded, aid organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said Tuesday.

 

 

After touring all the major hospitals in Bangui following the military coup of the Seleka rebel coalition, MSF said they found that there were "zero medical personnel on site (and) not even a cleaner."

 

Following the weekend battles, in which 13 South African troops lost their lives, there were 70 wounded people at a military hospital waiting for treatment on Sunday and about two dozen still waiting on Monday, said MSF staff member Sylvain Groulx in Bangui.

 

The number of wounded included civilians as well as fighters.

 

He added the civilian casualties was hard to assess "because of the insecurity, most people don't attend the hospital . there is no public transportation, it are only the Seleka people out in the streets," he said.

 

The Seleka rebels at the weekend took Bangui and the presidential palace, as well as the TV and radio stations as former president Francois Bozize fled to neighbouring Cameroon.

 

The rebels have long accused Bozize of breaching a 2007 peace deal and launched an offensive in December.

 

Late on Monday, rebel leader Michel Djotodia - who had declared himself the new president and said he would hold democratic elections within three years - suspended the country's constitution, dissolved parliament and announced he would rule by decree, according to France24 television.

 

The UN Security Council on Monday "strongly" condemned the military-led coup by the Seleka coalition that toppled the government, and criticized the ensuing violence and looting. The African Union suspended the country's membership and imposed sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against the rebels.

 

While sporadic gunfire could still be heard around Bangui from Monday to Tuesday night, the situation was generally calm but insecurity prevailed, said Groulx.

 

"It's like a holiday in the sense that nothing is open . there are remnants of looting on the streets ... and sporadic gunfire at night but a lot less then before ... we are told they're shooting in the air," he said.

 

A Congolese minister on Monday told Kinshasa-based Radio Okapi, that "thousands of people" have fled to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo since Saturday.

 

- Sapa