Bangui: Officials in Central African Republic say 11 men including leaders of the Christian anti-Balaka militia have been transferred to the capital`s main prison.
The men were detained during a disarmament program yesterday. They are the first prisoners taken into custody by the government of transitional President Catherine Samba-Panza.
Justice Minister Isabelle Gaudeuille declined to name the suspects or specify the allegations against them. But Jean-Pierre Sadou of the African peacekeeping mission said they included multiple anti-Balaka leaders.
The anti-Balaka militia formed in response to widespread abuses committed by the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels, who overthrew the president of a decade last year.
Militia members have been implicated in recent brutal violence targeting Muslims, and the head of the French military mission has called them "enemies of the peace."
