CAR Red Cross worker killed
2009-06-15 17:16
Bangui - The Central African Republic on Monday launched an investigation into the killing of a local employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Armed men killed Moctar Chaib on June 10, in the northern city of Birao, in circumstances which remain unclear.
Government spokesperson Cyriaque Gonda told national radio "everything will be done to make sure an inquiry is carried out quickly to shed new light on this unfortunate event".
He added the "cowardly killing" was carried out by unidentified attackers who had targeted members of the Union of Democratic Forces (UFDR) at their base in Birao.
The UFDR is a former rebel group, which has now signed a peace accord with the government.
The death of the Red Cross worker came a few days after an attack at a Birao military base left at least 27 dead.
The Red Cross has been active in Birao since 2007, helping people affected by conflict within the CAR and across the landlocked and poor nation's borders with Chad and Sudan.
- SAPA