Two French troops injured after clashes with militants in CAR

Paris (AFP) - Two French peacekeepers in the crisis-hit Central African Republic were injured following an attack by armed fighters, France's military command said on Wednesday.

The northern town of Batangafo has become a flashpoint of violence in recent days, with clashes on Monday leaving several members of the Seleka militia dead.

The latest clashes took place on Tuesday night when "dozens" of fighters attacked French peacekeepers patrolling the region.

They returned fire and combat planes and helicopters were deployed. No casualty figures were provided for the rebel fighters.

A statement from the French military in Paris said two of its soldiers were shot and had been evacuated to the capital Bangui. Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

French and African Union peacekeepers are deployed in the country in a bid to stem ethnic and sectarian violence that has torn the country apart for over a year.

The army said the situation had calmed by Wednesday but was still tense.

The CAR was plunged into crisis in March last year after a coup by the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels, who seized power for 10 months.

Rogue Seleka fighters carried out a campaign of violence against Christians in the following months, prompting the creation of the "anti-balaka" vigilante groups and cycle of violence that has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.