Artillery fire rocks Congo
2005-10-19 16:57
Brazzaville - Artillery fire broke out on Wednesday in the Bacongo district of the Republic of Congo's capital, Brazzaville, where witnesses said the army seemed to have launched an operation to root out a violent militia force.
"The security forces apparently want to dislodge the militiamen" backing charismatic preacher Frederic Bitsangou, known as Ntumi, from several premises they have illegally occupied, said a resident.
Two other local people agreed, following the deployment on Tuesday of soldiers in the area, a move that prompted panic among residents and led some to flee, after clashes involving the militia claimed six lives on October 14.