|
|
| Over 200 foreigners moved to Libreville from Bangui
|
|
|
| |
Libreville, Gabon (PANA) -
At least 230 foreigners arrived here
Sunday and Monday from Bangui, the Central African Republic (CAR)
capital, to escape a looting spree that followed last Saturday's
coup d'etat against President Ange-Felix Patasse.
According to the commander of the French military unit based in
Gabon, French air force carrier planes allocated to peacekeepers
deployed in Bangui by the Economic and Monetary Community of
Central Africa (CEMAC) had evacuated 80 people Sunday and 150
others on Monday.
A majority of these were French nationals whose properties were
looted. They are currently sheltered in a dozen tents at the De
Gaulle barracks in Libreville, where they are receiving
assistance from French military personnel.
The repatriated persons' luggage and identity papers were
thoroughly checked, and their respective ambassadors or consuls
briefly interviewed them en route to a dormitory.
Col. Beth said that the French army has adequate space to
house the repatriated persons, adding that four military aircraft
had been set aside for the evacuation of foreigners from Bangui.
A chaotic situation has prevailed in Bangui since Patasse's
ouster by his former army chief of staff, General Francois
Bozize.
|
| |
| Libreville - 18/03/2003 |
| |
|
|