[00:06.47]From VOA Learning English,
[00:09.91]this is In the News.
[00:12.51]United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
[00:16.25]has appealed for international action
[00:19.40]to stop religious violence
[00:22.24]in the Central African Republic.
[00:25.49]Mr. Ban asked the Security Council on Thursday
[00:29.33]to deploy at least 3,000 more troops to the country
[00:34.67]within the coming days and weeks.
[00:38.07]He said, "When innocent civilians
[00:41.36]are being murdered in large numbers,
[00:44.20]deliberately targeted in the most brutal fashion,
[00:48.65]simply because of who they are, the world must act."
[00:53.35]More than 7,000 African Union and French forces
[00:58.68]are already in the country.
[01:01.17]The European Union has promised to send another 1,000 soldiers.
[01:08.60]The Central African Republic is a former French colony.
[01:13.60]This week, Mr. Ban also proposed $38 million
[01:19.28]in financial and other aid for the AU forces.
[01:24.79]He worries the religious violence could turn into genocide.
[01:30.66]The unrest began a year ago after Muslim rebels
[01:35.91]ousted the president, Francois Bozize.
[01:39.46]His overthrow and resulting violence
[01:43.45]led to a majority Christian militia.
[01:47.24]Its members are accused of carrying out attacks
[01:51.59]against Muslim civilians.
[01:55.29]Since December, hundreds of people have died
[01:59.68]in clashes between Muslims and Christians.
[02:04.11]Tens of thousands have fled the country in the past month.
[02:09.66]The militia men call themselves the anti-balaka.
[02:13.96]Balaka is said to be a word for knife or machete
[02:18.71]in a local language.
[02:21.46]Militia members say they came to the capital, Bangui,
[02:25.54]in December to oust the government of Michel Djotodia,
[02:31.29]the country's first Muslim president.
[02:34.03]But international forces have accused
[02:37.68]the anti-balaka of being the problem.
[02:40.77]They say its fighters are increasingly
[02:44.26]turning to attacking homes and businesses.
[02:48.84]Some fighters are only teenagers.
[02:51.84]They have set up roadblocks on country roads,
[02:55.98]carrying weapons and demanding money.
[02:59.81]French and African troops have used force to disarm them.
[03:05.65]The anti-balaka has been described as a loose alliance,
[03:11.44]and several leaders claim to speak for the men.
[03:15.43]Joachim Kokate represented the militia at a meeting in January.
[03:21.47]He says it is time for justice.
[03:25.01]He says those organizing theft
[03:28.76]and extrajudicial killings should be targeted,
[03:32.50]and they should answer for their acts.
[03:35.94]Many anti-balaka fighters tell VOA
[03:40.13]they want the same treatment the Muslim Seleka rebels are receiving.
[03:46.42]That means they want food, shelter and financial aid.
[03:51.57]They also want the chance to join the national army
[03:56.55]as part of a disarmament agreement.
[03:59.90]Some fighters consider themselves liberators of their country.
[04:05.53]Others see the conflict as becoming a battle between religious groups.
[04:11.57]But the militias are made up of both Christians and animists,
[04:17.57]people who believe that natural objects have spirits.
[04:22.40]They say they are motivated by nationalism -- not religion.
[04:28.19]Anti-balaka leaders say they have tens of thousands of fighters.
[04:34.17]And that's In the News from VOA Learning English.
[04:39.91]I'm Steve Ember.