Heavily armed peacekeepers have escorted some of the last remaining Muslims out of Central African Republic’s capital, Bangui, trucking more than 1,300 people who for months had been trapped by Christian militants.
Moments after the convoys departed Sunday, Christians swarmed into and picked apart houses and a mosque in Bangui's PK12 neighborhood, which had been a Muslim stronghold in the majority Christian south.
Armed Congolese peacekeepers stood watch, but did not attempt to stop the looting.
The exodus further partitions the country, a process that has been under way since January, when a Muslim rebel government gave up power nearly a year after overthrowing the president of a decade.
The United Nations has described the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Muslims as "ethnic cleansing.''
Earlier, Reuters news agency reported that at least 22 people, including 15 local chiefs and three local members of staff of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, were killed in an attack about 450 kilometers north of Bangui.
A local official told the news agency most were killed in an attack on a clinic run by the charity while the chiefs were holding a meeting there.
Moments after the convoys departed Sunday, Christians swarmed into and picked apart houses and a mosque in Bangui's PK12 neighborhood, which had been a Muslim stronghold in the majority Christian south.
Armed Congolese peacekeepers stood watch, but did not attempt to stop the looting.
The exodus further partitions the country, a process that has been under way since January, when a Muslim rebel government gave up power nearly a year after overthrowing the president of a decade.
The United Nations has described the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Muslims as "ethnic cleansing.''
Earlier, Reuters news agency reported that at least 22 people, including 15 local chiefs and three local members of staff of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, were killed in an attack about 450 kilometers north of Bangui.
A local official told the news agency most were killed in an attack on a clinic run by the charity while the chiefs were holding a meeting there.
