U.N. Condemns C. Africa Attacks, Urges Calm

The U.N. Security Council condemned "in the strongest terms" Friday a recent spate of attacks in the Central African Republic capital, urging an immediate end to the bloodshed.

In a unanimous statement, the 15-member panel demanded that "all militias and armed groups and elements put aside their arms, cease all forms of violence and destabilizing activities immediately in order to end the cycle of violence and retaliation."

An attack Wednesday on the Notre Dame de Fatima church in the capital Bangui -- where some 9,000 displaced people had taken shelter -- killed at least 17 people while 27 others were kidnapped, according to the U.N.'s refugee agency.

The deeply impoverished, majority Christian country has been wracked by relentless tit-for-tat attacks between Christian vigilante groups and the mainly Muslim ex-Seleka rebels who seized power in a coup that ended in January.

In its statement, the Security Council said the transitional authorities "have the primary responsibility to protect civilians" and encouraged them to "take the necessary measures to prevent further violence in the capital and throughout the country."

The panel called for "the acceleration of the political and national reconciliation process in order to lay the ground for an end to violence," urging the transitional authorities to "take concrete steps in this direction." 

The council also called on U.N. member states, as well as regional and international organizations, to boost their contributions -- in terms of troops, funding and logistical support -- to the African Union's MISCA peacekeeping force.