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Some a dozen killed in Central African Republic clashes

Xinhua, March 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Some a dozen people, most of them civilians, have been killed in clashes in the Central African Republic's central town of Bambari.

The clashes that started Friday were between a faction of former rebel coalition, Seleka, and local Christians.

Jeseph Zoundeko, chief of staff of People's Front for CAR Renaissance, a faction of Seleka, told Xinhua on Monday the clashes were triggered by the death of a member of another seleka faction UPC, suspected to be killed by Anti-Balaka, a Christian group.

In retaliation, UPC members attacked Christians in Bambari and its surrounding areas on Friday. Violence continued until Sunday, leaving "between 10 to 11" people killed, Joseph said.

Jeseph said calm was restored on Monday.

Seleka overthrew the former government of Central African Republic in 2013. Its leader Michel Djotodia became president from March, 2013 until his resignation in January, 2014. Members of Seleka are almost entirely Muslim.

The clashes took place a few days after the country's presidential election held in mid-February, which brought former Prime Minister Faustin Archange Touadera to presidency. Endit