(Yicai Global) Dec. 23 -- Four Chinese businesses in the Central African Republic were looted as anarchy looms in the diamond-rich nation with militia groups contesting the seated government in armed conflict ahead of the presidential elections to be held next week.

Most of the more than 250 Chinese citizens in the country were evacuated on Dec. 17 and are now in a safe place, the Chinese Embassy in the capital Bangui said today. The embassy contacted each and every Chinese citizen in the country to help them get out. It has repeatedly warned citizens not to go into the Muslim PK5 district and other dangerous areas of the capital, it added.

Insurgency is to be expected in the run-up to the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections on Dec. 27, the embassy said. Polling stations could be attacked and there might be open gunfire between armed rebels and the government-led military, it added.

The landlocked Central African Republic, which has a population of 4.7 million, exports diamonds, gold, timber, cotton, cigarettes and tobacco to China.

Editor: Kim Taylor