BANGUI
The predominantly Muslim seleka militia on Monday fired three of its members who were recently nominated for ministerial positions by new prime minister Mahamat Kamoun, a Muslim himself.
The militia said in a statement that was signed by its first deputy head Nouredine Adam that it was not consulted about the selection of the three ministers who should represent it in the new government.
It described as "great treason" the rejection of the three ministers to walk out of the government, saying this is enough reason for it to fire them.
"All the seleka members who participated in this government are fired," the statement quoted Adam as saying.
Newly-appointed prime minister Mahamat Kamoun selected three seleka members to be ministers in his government on August 22.
The seleka reacted to this selection by saying that it does not either recognize Kamoun or his government.
Even with this, the three ministers refused last week to turn down the job offer extended them by the new prime minister of their restive country.
Since last year, the Central African Republic has been plagued by tit-for-tat sectarian violence between Christian anti-balaka militiamen and Muslim seleka fighters.
Anti-Muslim violence escalated after the country's president, Michel Djotodia, stepped down in January. He was replaced by Catherine Samba-Panza, a Christian who had formerly served as mayor of capital Bangui.
Christians, who account for the majority of the country's population, accuse Muslims of supporting former seleka rebels blamed for attacking Christian homes, looting property and carrying out summary executions.
www.aa.com.tr/en
