Hundreds of inmates at a prison in the Central African Republic have escaped as a wave of violence left dozens dead.
After a Muslim taxi driver was killed, clashes erupted on Saturday between Christian militia and Muslim groups.
Members of a Christian militia known as the anti-Balaka attacked the prison on Monday, freeing hundreds of soldiers and militiamen.
The CAR has been wracked by violence since a mainly Muslim rebel group, the Seleka, seized power in March 2013.
The Seleka group was then ousted, sparking a wave of violent reprisals against the Muslim population, thousands of whom fled their homes.
'No-one in the prison'
Since the latest upturn in violence began at the weekend, more than 30 people have been killed.
The United Nations children's agency, Unicef, said at least three teenagers had been killed, with one beheaded.
Prisoners escaped from the Ngaragba jail in the capital Bangui on Monday evening. "There is no-one in the prison," Reuters news agency quoted a senior security source as saying.
Thousands of protesters marched on the presidential palace on Monday to call for greater power for the army, which has seen its powers reduced since an interim government was installed in January 2014.
Interim President Catherine Samba Panza has cut short her trip to the UN General Assembly.
Presidential elections are scheduled for October, a month before Pope Francis visits Bangui.
Latest Stories
-
Africa needs collective voice to fight Trump’s tariffs – Former Egypt’s Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister
13 minutes -
Bayindir’s failed Man Utd audition offers Onana dilemma
19 minutes -
7 suspected illegal miners arraigned over Black Volta pollution in Wa West
23 minutes -
Prof. Gyampo ushers in new era of austerity at Ghana Shippers Authority
24 minutes -
Police gun down 4 suspected robbers in shootout on Bekwai-Fomena Highway
24 minutes -
‘You don’t grandstand with Ghana’s image, that’s not being well-meaning citizen’ – Susan Adu-Amankwah
2 hours -
‘We are profiled as Ghanaians, not NDC or NPP’ – Susan Adu-Amankwah on suspicious flights
2 hours -
South Africa poised to re-open inquest into Nobel laureate’s death
3 hours -
Tanzania’s main opposition party banned from election
3 hours -
Nigerian bandit kingpin and 100 followers killed
3 hours -
Tariffs on imported semiconductor chips coming soon, Trump says
3 hours -
Landmine kills eight in Nigeria
4 hours -
Harvard professors sue over Trump’s review of $9 billion in funding
4 hours -
Trump administration says it is not required to help wrongly deported man return to US
4 hours -
Musk says Starlink now available in Somalia
4 hours