Four held over Bangui killing of Libyan diplomat

BANGUI, Central African Republic (Reuters) -- Security forces in the Central African Republic are holding four men for questioning in connection with the killing of Libya's ambassador during a robbery, police sources said on Thursday.

The four were a European, a Cameroon national and two Central Africans, they added, without specifying the nationality of the European.

Ambassador Abdallah al Senoussi died last week from wounds sustained during a hold-up outside a restaurant on August 29 in the capital Bangui. He had been flown to France for treatment.

The case has caused a storm of protest in the impoverished Central African nation, which, like many poor countries in Africa, enjoys occasional aid from Libya.

Political parties and personalities supporting President Ange-Felix Patasse have issued a joint communique condemning the killing and urging the government to do everything possible to bring the ambassador's killers to justice.

Police sources said that the European was arrested in a Bangui cafe on Wednesday.

There have been several cases of armed robbery in the sleepy riverside capital since three army mutinies in 1996 and 1997 triggered political and ethnic bloodshed but none had previously targeted a diplomat.

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