France's defence chief warned of a dangerous spiral in sectarian violence in the Central African Republic today as he visited the capital Bangui in support of French troops.
Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian flew into Bangui early today and met with some of the 1,600 French troops deployed in the country before he was due to hold talks with CAR's interim authorities.
His arrival came amid continued unrest in the capital, where residents reported seeing bands of armed thugs roaming the streets and hearing heavy bursts of gunfire in some neighbourhoods.
UN refugee agency UNHCR said today that more than 600 people had been killed in the violence in CAR in the past week, including 450 in Bangui and 160 in other parts of the country.
"The spiral of confrontation has abruptly worsened," Le Drian said in a speech to about 200 French soldiers in Bangui, also warning of "the early beginnings of a humanitarian crisis".
Concerns have been growing over the humanitarian situation in CAR, which plunged into chaos after a rebel-backed coup ousted president Francois Bozize in March.
France sent troops into its ex-colony at the weekend to bolster an African peacekeeping force that has struggled to contain increasing violence, including sectarian clashes between Christians and Muslims.
UNHCR said the violence had also forced nearly 160,000 residents of Bangui from their homes in the past week.
About 110,000 are living in squalid conditions in camps in and around the capital, their misery compounded by heavy downpours last night.
Le Drian said he was in the country to offer "the support of a proud nation" to French troops who suffered their first losses when two soldiers were killed in clashes on Monday.
Intensive patrols continued on the streets of Bangui today and witnesses said at least one clash involving French soldiers occurred on the road to the airport, where French forces are based and thousands of residents have flocked for protection.
After addressing the troops, Le Drian flew by helicopter to Bossangoa in CAR's northwest, where several hundred French troops are deployed.
On his return to Bangui later, Le Drian was to meet with interim president Michel Djotodia, the former leader of the now disbanded Seleka rebel group that ousted Bozize.
Djotodia became the first Muslim president of the majority Christian country following the coup, but while some Seleka members remained loyal, others started terrorising the population and government forces were powerless to stop them.
Months of massacres, rapes and looting followed, with locals forming Christian vigilante groups in response.
