The move is aimed at helping¹ to restore security after more than a year of deadly ethnic² and religious violence.

 

The ban comes after days of violent demonstrations³ in the capital, Bangui, and a mass text campaign calling for a general strike.

 

The protesters want the transitional government that came to power in January to resign.

 

The CAR conflict began last year as mainly Muslim Seleka rebels, led by Michel Djotodia, seized power in the majority Christian⁴ country.

 

Mr Djotodia resigned as president in January under diplomatic pressure, but a interim⁵ government and French and African peacekeepers have failed to stop the violence between Christian and Muslim militia⁶ groups.

 

 

Mobile phone users in CAR now get a message in French saying "SMS not allowed".

 

"On the instruction of the prime minister... in order to contribute to the restoration of security in the country, the use of SMS by all mobile phone subscribers is suspended," Reuters news agency quotes the telecommunications ministry⁷ statement as saying.

 

According to the French news website Jeune Afrique, a letter was sent to CAR's four phone mobile operators ordering them to suspend their SMS texting service until further notice.

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