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Amnesty: Exodus of thousands of Muslims in C. African Republic amounts to ethnic cleansing

Associated Press
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Marabou Husein Aba Ali reads prayers at the mosque at PK12, the last checkpoint at the exit of the town, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2014, where he and 3500 other Muslims have sought refuge from sectarian violence, awaiting for transport from Bangui, Central African Republic, to neighboring Chad. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) (The Associated Press)

French soldiers search a house used as an armed cache in the Christian sector of PK12, the last checkpoint at the exit of the town, in Bangui, Central African Republic Tuesday Feb. 11, 2014. The commander of French troops in the Central African Republic General Francisco Soriano accused the Anti-Balaka Christian militias to be "enemies of the peace" and should be dealt with accordingly. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) (The Associated Press)

French soldiers search a house used as an armed cache in the Christian sector of PK12, the last checkpoint at the exit of the town, in Bangui, Central African Republic Tuesday Feb. 11, 2014. The commander of French troops in the Central African Republic General Francisco Soriano accused the Anti-Balaka Christian militias to be "enemies of the peace" and should be dealt with accordingly. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) (The Associated Press)

Amnesty International is warning that the exodus of tens of thousands of Muslims from Central African Republic amounts to ethnic cleansing.

In a report released Wednesday, the international human rights group said that the sectarian bloodshed now underway is a "tragedy of historic proportions" that could set a dangerous precedent for other countries in the region.

Joanne Mariner, senior crisis adviser for the group in Central African Republic, acknowledged it is a big step to use such language to describe the conflict. But she says it is justified "given the level of violent and purposeful displacement" that is taking place.

The wave of violence against Muslim civilians is being committed by Christian militiamen who stepped up their attacks as a Muslim government crumbled in January.