CAR: 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.