French photojournalist's body headed for Paris, inquiry into CAR killing opened
French MPs on Wednesday observed a minute of silence for French photojournalist Camille Lepage, who was killed in the Central African Republic (CAR) this week. Paris has opened into an inquiry into her death and militamen who were with her body.
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“The tragedy again shows how dangerous the journalist’s job is, they often put their life in danger so as to keep us informed,” said National Assembly speaker as the day’s parliamentary session opened.
Lepage’s body arrived in the CAR capital Bangui on Wednesday on its way to Paris where an autopsy is expected to be carried out.
French and African troops were interrogating the anti-balaka militiamen who were in the vehicle carrying her body.
Sources say she was killed in an ambush by Séléka militiamen and Peul tribesmen in the western Bouar region near the Cameroon and Chadian borders.
Four anti-balaka fighters and six Séléka and Peul are reported to have died in the fighting that ensued.
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