Summary
Rudimentary weapons taken from Christian extremist militias by French troops in the capital of the Central African Republic were piled up on the ground, near the body of a young man whose ears were ripped off.
Sporadic shots could be heard Thursday around the PK-5 business hub of the capital, where numerous Muslim-owned shops attract looters and anti-balaka forces, who are kept at bay by armed Muslims and remaining Seleka forces.
About 20 French soldiers sought to prevent scores of people from looting the property of the murdered Muslim.
Though few in number, the soldiers were holding dozens of youths at bay, half-hidden by tall grass behind the dead Muslim's property. It was impossible to tell whether they were anti-balaka forces, would-be looters or hooligans.
A score of French troops backed up by two armored vehicles Thursday threatened looters in the Yangato district near the airport with the use of force unless they departed.
The threat was affective, though determined looters lingered, waiting for the French troops to leave.
In one district lay the body of a young Christian, killed according to local people because anti-balaka fighters mistook him for a Muslim.
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