960420

French troops patrol

C Africa capital

BANGUI: French troops patrolled the capital of the Central African Republic on Saturday, restoring calm to the city after government army units staged a bloody two-day pay revolt there, witnesses said.

Many of the mutineers, who were from the Mixed Intervention Regiment (RMI) and who clashed with units loyal to President Ange-Felix Patasse, had returned to their barracks after assurances they would be paid, the witnesses added.

"A little calm has returned. French troops have taken charge of the siutation and many of the mutineers are back in their barracks," one commented. There were no reports of shooting.

Sources at state radio, which resumed broadcasts on Saturday after a day off the air, said the government was meeting at the former French colony's presidential palace to discuss the revolt, which killed as many as nine people.

The Central African Republic, dominated by dictator and self-styled emperor Jean-Bedel Bokassa between 1966 and 1979, mines diamonds but is one of the poorest countries in the world.

The revolt was Francophone Africa's third this year after similar mutinies in Guinea and Congo.

Several governments in the region, despite economic revival in some countries, have been struggling to make ends meet. Delays in pay for state employees have been common.

Patasse told French radio on Friday that the three months of salary arrears had been paid or were being paid.

"I ask all the elements to return to their barracks because their salaries are being paid since this morning. I ask them not to succumb to political manipulation," he said by telephone.

France, which has about 1,300 troops as well as warplanes stationed in the country under a cooperation agreement, earlier ordered its soldiers to protect the presidential palace.

Troops from its garrison in Bangui started patrolling the deserted streets on Friday. Helicopters from the French air base flew surveillance missions over the city most of the day.

On Saturday, curious onlookers strolled around the riverside capital but there were no buses or taxis.-Reuter