Ban Ki-moon visits Central African Republic

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moontraveled to Central African Republic on Saturday for the first time since the countryerupted into sectarian bloodshed four months ago, where he promised thosedisplaced by the violence they could “count on the international community.”The visit comes just before the U.N. chief stops in Rwanda to mark the 20thanniversary of the genocide there. Ban has been among the most vocal of worldleaders in calling on countries to prevent a similar tragedy in Central AfricanRepublic, where a political crisis has divided Muslims and Christians.International aid groups have criticized the U.N. response to the crisis, though Banhimself has spoken forcefully about the need to protect civilians in Central AfricanRepublic, where at one point earlier this year Muslims were being killed by Christianmobs in the streets on a near-daily basis.“I am here to show my solidarity and that of the international community,” Ban tolda group of displaced residents among the tens of thousands still living on the grounds of the airport protected by French troops.