OIC condemns central Africa violence

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Wednesday denounced ongoing violence in the Central Africa Republic which has left hundreds of innocent people dead. OIC Secretary-General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, in a statement, strongly condemned the inter-communal violence which engulfed the country and claimed hundreds of innocent lives, while urging militias there to cease all hostilities, drop their weapons and cooperate with the recently UN mandated peace keepers to restore durable peace and stability in the country. He called for the return of calm and peaceful co-existence in the Central African Republic and appealed to all countries in the region, particularly OIC Member States to actively contribute troops and participate in the UN mission. He also urged them to provide this African country with necessary assistance in order to alleviate the ramifications of the humanitarian crisis prevailing in the country, according to the statement. The Security Council had adopted a resolution authorizing the increase of the African Union military presence in the Central African Republic (CAR), known as MISCA, by one thousand for one year. The text, adopted unanimously under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, also authorizes MISCA infusion with the French troops there for help, pending its transformation into a full-fledged UN peacekeeping mission. It is meant to help quell the inter-communal and inter-religious violence between Christians and Muslims in the country, and restore public order.