Some 1,300 Muslims fearing attack by mainly Christian militias left the Central African capital Bangui today under heavy guard, deepening the religious divide in the strife-torn country.
Piled along with their possessions aboard 18 articulated lorries, the refugees left around midday accompanied by a large contingent of African peacekeepers, headed for the relative safety of the north.
Many could be seen raising their arms in celebration as the lorries picked up speed, finally leaving the rundown PK-12 ghetto on the outskirts of the capital Bangui behind them.
One of them told AFP before leaving that 10 of his 12 children had been killed by militiamen in the central-west city of Bossembele, and that he had seen people "blown apart by grenades".
