Thousands of displaced people block airport runway in Central African Republic

BANGUI, Central African Republic – Thousands of angry people flooded the runway of the international airport in the chaotic capital of Central African Republic, shouting slogans against the nation's Muslim president, who grabbed power in a coup nine months ago.

French forces deployed at the airport were unable to stop them and international flights appeared to have been suspended.

Central African Republic has been in a state of near-anarchy since an attack on the capital, Bangui, earlier this month by a Christian militia aiming to overthrow Michel Djotodia, the Muslim coup leader. That attack unleashed a wave of communal violence and over 40,000 mostly Christian refugees sought refuge at the airport. Until now they had been living peacefully under pieces of plastic on the edge of the airport.