Baku-APA. Chadian peacekeepers opened fire on a crowd demonstrating against their presence in the capital of Central African Republic on Monday, killing one person and injuring several others, protesters said, APA reports quoting Reuters.
An officer with the African Union peacekeeping mission (MISCA) confirmed that Chadian peacekeepers had clashed with demonstrators near the airport at Bangui, but could not confirm the death or provide further details.
The clash was the latest sign of rising tensions between the majority Christian population in Bangui and the Chadian forces, complicating international efforts to calm inter-religious violence in the large, landlocked African state.
Locals accuse the Chadian troops of siding with Muslim Seleka rebels, who seized power in Central African Republic in March, unleashing a wave of looting and killings. Many of the Seleka rebels come from Chad.
A spokesman for the international medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said around 40 people had been treated for injuries at their airport medical center on Monday, most of them lightly hurt in a panicked stampede.
MSF spokesman Martin Searle said one person had received treatment for a minor gunshot wound, while three others were seriously injured after being hit by a vehicle.
Protesters said the Chadians drove their vehicle at the crowd after demonstrators threw stones at them. "No Chadians in Bangui!" chanted members of the crowd, while others waved placards saying "No to the Chadian army," the protesters said.
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