Cameroon troops in border clash with C.Africa rebels

YAOUNDE (AFP) - Cameroonian troops have clashed with the Seleka rebels of the Central African Republic on the border of the two countries, forcing residents to flee the area, sources told AFP on Thursday.

"There were shots, gunshots, from both sides of the border" between Tuesday and Wednesday, a salesman working in the eastern Cameroonian border-town of Garoua-Boulai said. "People panicked and fled."

"From the city, we heard a lot of gunshots. It was a confrontation between the (Cameroonian) army and Seleka," a resident told AFP over the telephone.

The army confirmed the clash to AFP, but declined to give more details.

A local police official on Thursday reported "problems at the border".

Seleka rebels seized power in Central Africa six weeks ago in a coup ousting president Francois Bozize. The security situation in the already unstable nation remains volatile however, with pillaging and sporadic attacks still not brought under control.

Since the coup, Cameroon has tightened security in Garoua-Boulai, with army street patrols and sporadic searches looking for arms belonging to Central Africa's army.