New deadly violence erupts in Central African Republic

International troops have clashed with ex-Seleka rebels in a fresh outbreak of violence. By Miguel Medina (AFP/File)

Bangui (Central African Republic) (AFP) - International troops clashed with ex-Seleka rebels in Central African Republic Tuesday, just a day after at least 10 villagers were killed in a new flare up of violence.

Fighting broke out in the eastern mining town of Bria when UN forces, backed by French soldiers, evicted the guerillas from government buildings and "were immediately countered by the hostile armed group," said the United Nation's peacekeeping mission MINUSCA.

A source close to the international forces told AFP on condition of anonymity that there were several dead and injured, without elaborating. Officials have not confirmed any casualties.

"We couldn't set foot outside. There was gunfire coming from the area around the airport to the administrative buildings... The clashes were violent," a resident told AFP.

"The operation, which took place after the repeated refusal of the armed group to peacefully evacuate the premises, was aimed at ending the existence of a parallel administration in Bria," said MINUSCA, which has roughly 8,600 troops.

CAR is still struggling to recover from the 2013 coup that ousted president Francois Bozize and pushed the poor and unstable country into violence pitting the country's Christian and Muslim populations against one another.

A day earlier allies of the mainly Muslim ex-Seleka rebels killed at least 10 people and injured another 10 during an attack in the northern village of Boloum, said local police, who attributed the violence to armed Peul herders.

"The attackers also burned down houses and plantations," police added.

In the past two weeks at least eight people have been killed in other attacks in Central Africa's north, some of which have been blamed on the mostly Muslim Peuls.

The Seleka rebel alliance seized power in March 2013 and in response, largely Christian communities formed "anti-balaka" -- or anti-machete -- vigilante forces who hunted down Muslims in revenge attacks.

At the end of January ex-Seleka rebels blocked a government delegation from visiting Bria for a meeting with residents on efforts at national reconciliation.