Heavy gunfire rattled in the Central African Republic's capital today as Libyan-backed loyalist troops scrambled to fight off a surprise rebel attack, residents said.
The landlocked, impoverished country has suffered a series of mutinies and coup attempts since 1996 and Libyan troops flew into Bangui last year to help President Ange Felix Patasse's forces put down fighting.
Witnesses said an armed column of rebels seized control of the town of Bogangolo, about 170 km (110 miles) miles north of Bangui by road this morning.
It then swiftly descended on the riverside city. Among the rebels were some elements loyal to sacked army chief Mr Francois Bozize, who fled to northern neighbour Chad late last year after a brief uprising that followed his refusal to answer questions over an earlier coup attempt.
"There have been exchanges of automatic gunfire and of heavy weapons," said one man who lives near Patasse's residence. Residents said fighting erupted at about 3 p.m. (local time).
As night fell, the sounds of battle diminished and the attackers appeared to have dispersed into Bangui's northern districts, some four km (2.5 miles) north of the centre, which lies on the banks of the Oubangui river.
Despite rich diamond mines and possible oil reserves, the former French colony is among the poorest countries on earth and its recent history has been marred by a catalogue of turbulence.