text: Central Africa mourns its dead | News24
  Bangui - Central African Republic President Michel Djotodia declared a three-day period of mourning from Sunday for the 300 recent victims of sectarian violence in Bangui.
  "To honour the memory of our citizens who lost their lives during these tragic events, a three-day period of mourning will be observed," he said on national radio.
  At least 300 people were killed in Thursday's massacre and subsequent reprisals, the Red Cross has said, many of them clubbed or hacked to death.
  The Central African Republic has descended into chaos since a motley coalition of rebel fighters known as Seleka overthrew the government in March and installed their own chief, Djotodia, as president - the first Muslim leader of the majority Christian country.
  Djotodia has officially disbanded Seleka, but has proved unable to control the fighters who swept him to the presidency.
  The president expressed his condolences to "all Central Africans". He assured in his radio address that "the situation is under control" and urged people to return to their normal routines.
  Djotodia also expressed his gratitude to France which has sent in troops to patrol the Central African Republic's tense capital.