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Central African Republic rebel chief rejects ceasefire | Central African Republic rebel chief rejects ceasefire |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Seleka rebels in the Central African Republic have rejected a ceasefire deal and demanded the country be partitioned between Muslims and Christians. | Seleka rebels in the Central African Republic have rejected a ceasefire deal and demanded the country be partitioned between Muslims and Christians. |
In an interview with the BBC's Andrew Harding, Seleka military chief Joseph Zoundeiko said his forces would ignore the ceasefire agreed on Thursday. | In an interview with the BBC's Andrew Harding, Seleka military chief Joseph Zoundeiko said his forces would ignore the ceasefire agreed on Thursday. |
He said the deal had been negotiated without proper input from the military wing of the former Seleka alliance. | He said the deal had been negotiated without proper input from the military wing of the former Seleka alliance. |
Almost a quarter of the 4.6 million population have fled their homes. | Almost a quarter of the 4.6 million population have fled their homes. |
The peace agreement between mainly Muslim Seleka rebels and the largely Christian anti-Balaka militia was signed in the Congolese capital, Brazzaville. | |
Muslims have been forced to flee the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR) and most of the west of the country, in what rights groups described as ethnic cleansing. | |
Both sides have been accused of war crimes such as torture and unlawful killing. | Both sides have been accused of war crimes such as torture and unlawful killing. |
'Immediate partition' | 'Immediate partition' |
But Maj-Gen Zoundeiko has now called for the entire country to be split in two, arguing that CAR as a nation state is finished. | |
He called for an immediate partition between the Christian south and Muslim north. | He called for an immediate partition between the Christian south and Muslim north. |
But our correspondent says that political leaders from both sides insist that reconciliation remains possible and desirable despite months of violence. | But our correspondent says that political leaders from both sides insist that reconciliation remains possible and desirable despite months of violence. |
Tens of thousands of Muslims have already fled from the south - and daily attacks continue in the countryside. | Tens of thousands of Muslims have already fled from the south - and daily attacks continue in the countryside. |
Maj-Gen Zoundeiko blamed "our Christian brothers" for making peace impossible. He declined to say exactly how the country should be divided. | Maj-Gen Zoundeiko blamed "our Christian brothers" for making peace impossible. He declined to say exactly how the country should be divided. |
CAR's religious make-up | CAR's religious make-up |
Source: Index Mundi | Source: Index Mundi |
Andrew Harding: Fighting spreads like an infection | Andrew Harding: Fighting spreads like an infection |
The latest violence in CAR began when mainly Muslim rebels seized power in March last year. | The latest violence in CAR began when mainly Muslim rebels seized power in March last year. |
The majority Christian state then descended into ethno-religious warfare. | The majority Christian state then descended into ethno-religious warfare. |
The presence of some 7,000 international peacekeepers has failed to put an end to the violence and revenge attacks. | The presence of some 7,000 international peacekeepers has failed to put an end to the violence and revenge attacks. |
Earlier this month Amnesty international named at least 20 people it says are suspected of ordering or committing atrocities and suggests they should be tried under international law by a hybrid court using national and international experts. | Earlier this month Amnesty international named at least 20 people it says are suspected of ordering or committing atrocities and suggests they should be tried under international law by a hybrid court using national and international experts. |
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