Kerry: US alarmed over violence in central African republic

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said here Thursday that the U.S. is alarmed over the violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), calling on transitional authorities to "immediately" end the violence. Kerry said in a statement that the U.S. is "alarmed" by the December 24 and 25 attacks in the CAR by both Seleka and Anti-Balaka fighters against civilian populations in the capital Bangui, during which dozens of people were killed and resulted in "the large-scale displacement of those living in the northern part of the city." He added "we were deeply disturbed by the discovery on December 26 in Bangui of a mass grave containing over 20 bodies." He affirmed that the "continued sectarian fighting only deepens the country's wounds and makes reconciliation more difficult." "The United States calls on the C.A.R. transitional authorities to immediately end the violence, end the use of torture, and investigate and prosecute all those implicated in grave human rights abuses," he noted. He stressed that "the United States believes that this crisis can only be resolved through a political process that leads to fair and inclusive elections as soon as possible, but not later than February 2015, so that C.A. R. can have a legitimate government that represents the will of the people." He commended the African Union-led stabilization mission in the C.A.R., MISCA, and the French forces operating as part of Operation Sangaris, "for their commitment to ending the violence and establishing an environment in which a political transition to a democratically elected government can take place," saying "we are confident the French and MISCA forces will act robustly to protect equally all civilian populations, regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation." The U.S. top diplomat called on the CAR transitional authorities "to take every possible step to end violence and promote reconciliation and to provide all necessary support to MISCA and French troops in their efforts to disarm both Seleka and Anti-Balaka groups and to allow for unhindered humanitarian access to those in need."