Fresh Christian-Muslim violence has erupted in the Central African Republic, forcing new interim president Catherine Samba Panza to take time out today from talks on forming a government tasked with ending the bloodshed.
Residents said a night of fighting had shaken the capital Bangui following news that Christian vigilantes had killed a prominent Muslim politician yesterday -- putting Samba Panza, the country's first woman president, to the test even before she had a chance to choose her ministers.
However despite having to take a break from talks on her cabinet to devote part of her day to security issues, Samba Panza wasted no time in appointing a prime minister as she set about getting the beleaguered state back on its feet.
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The former Bangui mayor chose a banking official little-known inside the country, Andre Nzapayeke, to form a government.
A Christian, Nzapayeke is a former secretary general of the African Development Bank and is currently vice-president of the Development Bank of Central African States.
His appointment comes as Bangui remains mired in a cycle of religious bloodshed.
The latest violence broke out after members of a so-called "anti-balaka" -- Christian militia formed in response to a wave of atrocities by mostly Muslim rebel group Seleka -- reportedly killed Joseph Kalite, a Muslim ex-minister who had held cabinet posts in various governments.
Kalite was seen as close to Michel Djotodia, the Seleka leader who overthrew the country's government in March last year and installed himself as president in the majority Christian country. Djotodia was forced to resign on January 10 under international pressure over his inability to rein in his fighters.
Ex-Seleka rebels exchanged fire Friday night with soldiers from the African Union-backed military force MISCA in various parts of the capital.
A commander from MISCA, which has about 5,200 troops and is backed by a 1,600-strong French force, said his unit had arrested about a dozen ex-Seleka fighters and seized their weapons after a firefight near the National Assembly.
Looters and anti-balaka fighters have also been regularly pillaging the capital's central business district, whose shops are mostly Muslim-owned -- often clashing with young Muslims and ex-Seleka rebels, with the violence spilling over into neighbouring areas.
Thousands of Muslims have fled the capital to neighbouring Chad to escape the unrest, part of the million people nationwide who have fled their homes.
