Residents cheered the speech of interim leader
Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet
Relative calm has returned to the
streets of the Central African Republic (CAR) capital Bangui after weeks of
sectarian clashes, with banks, offices and markets re-opening.
The country's interim leader said the days of looting and revenge attacks
were over.
The city has been riven by sectarian clashes in recent months.
About 20% of the 4.6 million population are said to have fled their homes,
amid warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe.
The BBC's Piers Schofield in Bangui says people now feel
safe enough to leave their homes across the city.
In recent weeks, there has always been at least one district - whether Muslim
or Christian - where violence has meant people stayed at home, he says.
The police have also returned to the streets, while some local residents have
said the city is the busiest it has been for a year.
Our correspondent says it feels like a turning point, following the rebel
leader's resignation last Friday.
Interim leader and speaker speaker of the provisional parliament
Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet said: "The chaos is over, the pillaging is over,
the revenge attacks are over."
Intense pressure
The city's residents say Bangui hasn't been this busy since early December.
Having been here then, the difference is striking. The streets are bustling,
taxis running, banks are open and lots of people are simply walking around.
But life isn't back to normal: French and African peacekeepers are manning
checkpoints all over the city, searching vehicles. Bangui is full of weapons and
that remains a major issue.
The political vacuum has given an apparent break to the civilians here, but
the anxiety is palpable. The Red Cross has recovered more bodies while the
wounded are still arriving in hospitals for treatment.
More African foreign nationals want to leave for their home countries.
Hundreds of thousands displaced find it too early to come back to their
neighbourhoods. The CAR seems to be in limbo - so far peaceful - but everyone
knows that it wouldn't take much for serious violence to erupt again.
Following months of fighting, Michel Djotodia seized
power in March 2013 to become the country's first Muslim leader.
He disbanded his Seleka rebels but they continued to attack Christian
civilians around the country, prompting the formation of vigilante groups, which
targeted Muslims.
Mr Djotodia stepped down under intense pressure from CAR's neighbours.
The transitional national council now has two weeks to choose a new
president.
In another sign of a return to business as usual, hundreds of people lined up
to re-enlist in the army, following an appeal from the chief of staff.
Many of them had either deserted after the rebel takeover or left to to join
the vigilante groups.
Fighting first eased on Sunday after rival militiamen laid down their arms in
a truce brokered by the French military.
However, our correspondent warns that tension remains and the mood could
quickly turn.
The Red Cross say about 15 people were killed over the weekend and at least
60 seriously wounded.
Vigilante groups have been targeting Muslims in
Christian-majority Bangui
The BBC's Paul Wood has spoken to a man who confessed to eating the leg of a
Muslim man killed by a Christian mob.
Ouandja "Mad Dog" Magloire said he was acting out of revenge after his
pregnant wife, sister-in-law and her baby had been killed by Muslims.
However, this incident happened last week, before Mr Djotodia stood down and
seems to be an isolated case.
CAR has huge deposits of gold, diamonds and other minerals but has seen a
succession of coups and rebellions since independence from France in 1960,
leaving most of its people living in poverty.
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