CHAD REBELLION WIDENS, SPARKED BY FRENCH MILITARY INTERVENTION.Byline: The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times A mutiny by unpaid soldiers in the Central African Republic Central African Republic, republic (2005 est. pop. 3,800,000), 240,534 sq mi (622,983 sq km), central Africa. The landlocked nation is bordered by Chad (N), Sudan (E), Congo (Kinshasa) and Congo (Brazzaville) (S), and Cameroon (W). showed signs Thursday of turning into a popular uprising against French intervention in the country, after French soldiers came to the aid of the government. With Paris sending mixed signals about its intentions in the Central African Republic, a former colony still under strong French influence, diplomats said that what started as a minor army insurrection now threatens to become a serious embarrassment for France. The escalation of the crisis began late Wednesday, when a French helicopter gunship gun·ship n. An armed aircraft, such as a helicopter, that is used to support troops and provide fire cover. fired on a van carrying several mutineers as they headed into an assault on the national radio station in the capital, Bangui. Nine of the rebellious soldiers reportedly were killed in the attack. Early Thursday, as news of the French action spread through the city, several thousand angry demonstrators shouting anti-French slogans marched in central Bangui to protest foreign intervention. Emboldened em·bold·en tr.v. em·bold·ened, em·bold·en·ing, em·bold·ens To foster boldness or courage in; encourage. See Synonyms at encourage. Adj. 1. mutineers, many of them shedding their uniforms, secured positions in the heavily looted downtown area, occasionally firing on French troops, at least two of whom have been wounded. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. radio reports from the city, French troops, together with Central African Central African may mean:
Taking no chances with a further loss of control, Paris announced that all of its citizens in the country, along with departing Americans and other foreigners, were being evacuated immediately. With planes operating around the clock, French officials said that they expected the bulk of the evacuation would be completed by early today. ``The people were shouting anti-French slogans and we felt quite threatened,'' said one evacuee e·vac·u·ee n. A person evacuated from a dangerous area. Noun 1. evacuee - a person who has been evacuated from a dangerous place migrant, migrator - traveler who moves from one region or country to another who was interviewed on French radio. ``They were all together out of control. Uncontrollable.'' |
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