By Hassan Isilow
BANGUI
Two light-skinned Chadian nationals were lynched Saturday morning by an angry mob of Christians as they traveled to Bangui airport to board a plane that had been provided by their government to repatriate Chadians living in the war-ravaged Central African Republic (CAR).
"I can’t believe what I saw on the way to the airport," one eyewitness told Anadolu Agency, requesting anonymity.
"Two Chadians were pulled from the truck they were travelling in and lynched by the angry mob," he added.
He said the slain Chadians were the last in a convoy of vehicles transporting Chadian nationals to the airport.
"French soldiers were not far from the scene, but they took long to intervene," noted the source.
"The mob had already killed them and looted some of their property," he added.
No French spokesman was immediately available to comment.
CAR, a mineral-rich landlocked country, descended into anarchy in March, when Seleka rebels – said to be mostly Muslims – ousted Christian president François Bozize, who had assumed power in a 2003 coup.
In recent weeks, sectarian violence that followed the emergence of Christian militias known locally as "anti-balaka" has claimed hundreds of lives.
According to the latest UN estimates, some 2.2 million people in CAR, nearly half of the country’s 4.6 million-strong population, are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
-Looting-
Meanwhile, two kilometers away from the airport rowdy groups of Christian youths were looting homes belonging to Muslims in Benzville area, including the home of General Yaya Issa, a former Seleka rebel who was killed by the self-styled Christian militia, locally known as anti-balaka, on 5 December.
The youth looted furniture and an old Mercedes Benz from the late military general's home as French troops looked out without stopping them, according to an AA reporter at the scene.
French soldiers just looked on as the youth went across the road and broke into the house belonging to a Muslim family.
The Christians came out carrying electronic appliances and nothing was done to them.
"We can only stop them if our commander authorizes us too," one French soldier told AA.
By the time of filling this report was massive looting was still going on.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
