Central African Republic Revolts

Loyalist troops and presidential guards hunted down rebel soldiers and shot them dead in the streets Tuesday, retaking control of the Central African Republic's capital after a failed coup. Civilians streamed out of Bangui's southern neighborhoods, carrying their belongings on their heads, to escape the crackdown on soldiers suspected of involvement in the previous day's coup attempt.

Fresh clashes in the capital, Bangui, between African peacekeepers and disaffected soldiers killed at least 10 civilians and wounded dozens, including French nationals hurt when a stray mortar shell hit their embassy compound, witnesses said.

African peacekeepers shelled parts of the capital, Bangui, where mutinous soldiers were holed up after days of clashes, forcing thousands of people to flee, witnesses said.

French troops stormed a rebel base and seized control of a corner of Bangui, the capital, that had been held for six weeks by mutineers. At least 30 rebel soldiers were taken prisoner, and witnesses reported seeing the Red Cross removing dozens of bodies on stretchers.

At least two French soldiers were killed as French troops clashed with army mutineers who tried to approach the presidential palace in the capital, Bangui.

The fighting that has rocked Congo, the Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic in recent months follows a pattern of unrest plaguing much of the region, analysts say, noting that Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Sudan and Uganda all have been riven by insurgencies and are struggling to avert more bloodshed.