UN chief profound alarm over Central Africa violence

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced "profound alarm" Friday over the escalating bloodshed in the Central African Republic, issuing an urgent appeal for restraint to protect civilians. The U.N. Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the country (BINUCA) had reported further killings overnight, driving the death toll higher, Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said. Nesirky said reports from the ground indicated deepening sectarian violence and fighting between armed groups with "tragic consequences." "Ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka elements have been reported raiding homes and killing adults and children," Nesirky said. "Hundreds of houses were reported burned in Bossangoa after an offensive by anti-Balaka elements was repelled. "This horrific cycle of violence and retaliation must stop immediately," Nesirky said. "Civilians must be protected." The Central African Republic (CAR) has descended into chaos since a motley coalition of rebel fighters known as Seleka overthrew the government in March and installed their own chief, Michel Djotodia, as president -- the first Muslim leader of the majority Christian country. The anti-Balaka (anti-machete) militias emerged in September in response to numerous atrocities by the Seleka, which Djotodia has officially dissolved. Some 92 deaths and 155 wounded have been recorded at a Bangui hospital since the start of a wave of killings on Thursday, according to a toll issued by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Nesirky said Ban expressed "profound alarm" and "appeals urgently for all parties to apply restraint and do everything in their power to rein in those fomenting and perpetrating the violence." U.N. humanitarian operations chief Valerie Amos said in a separate statement she was "extremely concerned" by deteriorating conditions for civilians. "Over the last 24 hours we have seen reports that around one hundred people have been killed and hundreds more injured in fighting and attacks," Amos said. Amos demanded that the warring factions "protect civilians and ensure their safety." "They must ensure free and unfettered access for neutral and impartial organizations to deliver humanitarian aid," she said.