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Central African Republic: Bangui grenade attack kills 11 | Central African Republic: Bangui grenade attack kills 11 |
(35 minutes later) | |
A grenade attack on a funeral in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, has killed 11 people, the Red Cross says. | A grenade attack on a funeral in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, has killed 11 people, the Red Cross says. |
A government minister earlier said 20 people were killed, but several sources told the BBC the number was lower. | |
Local residents blame the attack on former fighters from the Seleka militia. | |
The country has been hit by civil conflict since Seleka rebels ousted the president in March 2013. | The country has been hit by civil conflict since Seleka rebels ousted the president in March 2013. |
The attack happened at around 23:00 on Thursday (22:00 GMT), Public Security Minister Denis Wangao Kizimale told national radio. | |
Mr Kizimale told local radio that the attackers were "extremists well-known to the police", according to the AFP news agency. | Mr Kizimale told local radio that the attackers were "extremists well-known to the police", according to the AFP news agency. |
CAR's Red Cross head Antoine Mbao Bogo told the BBC that in addition to the 11 deaths, 14 people were wounded. | |
He also said that Red Cross volunteers were mugged by unidentified armed men on their way to collect bodies and had their phones stolen. | |
There were no casualties but the BBC's Thomas Fessy says the incident shows how difficult it is for aid workers to operate in CAR at the moment. | |
The conflict has taken on an increasingly sectarian nature, with UN human rights chief Navi Pillay warning last week that hatred between Christians and Muslims in CAR had reached a "terrifying level". | The conflict has taken on an increasingly sectarian nature, with UN human rights chief Navi Pillay warning last week that hatred between Christians and Muslims in CAR had reached a "terrifying level". |
There have been horrific attacks, including acts of cannibalism and children's heads being cut off. | |
Around a quarter of the country's 4.6 million people have fled their homes. | |
After the mainly Muslim rebel Seleka group deposed President Francois Bozize and installed their leader Michel Djotodia as president, it was accused of targeting Christians. | |
In January, Mr Djotodia was in turn forced to step down amid criticism he had not done enough to stem sectarian violence. | In January, Mr Djotodia was in turn forced to step down amid criticism he had not done enough to stem sectarian violence. |
Since then, Muslims have been singled out for attack, with thousands fleeing their homes, many to neighbouring countries such as Cameroon and Chad. | |
Some 6,000 African Union and 2,000 French troops have been sent to CAR to try to halt the bloodshed but officials want the UN Security Council to deploy a force of around 12,000. |