Fresh clashes have broken out in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, amid growing tension between rival militias.
Heavy gunfire and explosions were heard throughout the night and again on Thursday. Shops have shut and residents are staying indoors.
The Red Cross says its workers have been unable to respond to calls for help after being threatened.
At least 5,000 people have been killed in religious violence in CAR this year.
A deadline for the resignation of interim President Catherine Samba Panza – issued by a Christian-dominated militia – expired this week.
The latest clashes are the fiercest since a UN force took over peacekeeping duties last month.
According to an official from the UN force quoted by the AFP news agency, the violence was sparked this week by a grenade attack that injured several pedestrians in Bangui.
The attacker, riding a motorcycle, “was chased, apprehended and killed by unidentified men,” the official is quoted as saying.
Further clashes then erupted in the city’s KM5 district.
At least five people are said to have died since the violence began on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, a local Red Cross official, Pastor Antoine Mbao Bogo, was quoted as saying that the agency’s workers had suspended operations to help the wounded and collect dead bodies from the streets.
“We have been forced to do so because of the direct threat to our staff members,” Bogo told Reuters news agency. He refused to say who had made the threats.
CAR has suffered ethnic and religious unrest for more than a year since mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian country.
Muslim rebel leader Michel Djotodia resigned in January under diplomatic pressure, but violence between Christian and Muslim militia groups has continued.
Both groups have been accused of targeting civilians. Thousands have been killed and tens of thousands more have fled the country.
The UN says that about 1.3 million people – a quarter of the population – are in need of aid.
Source: www.punchng.com/news/car-crisis-gunfire-explosions-in-bangui/

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