At least six people have been killed and hundreds forced to flee their homes after violence involving the “anti-balaka” militia broke out in the capital of the Central African Republic.

Clashes in the capital on Wednesday pitting anti-balaka fighters against soldiers from the country’s newly deployed UN mission left three militia members dead and four peacekeepers wounded, officials said.

The fighting broke out on the main road to Bangui’s airport when peacekeepers attempted to remove an anti-balaka barricade.
“The anti-balaka set fire to 22 houses. Three people were killed, including two burned alive in their homes,” said Joseph Tagbale, mayor of the district.

Samba Panza’s transitional government said that the increase in violence in the city, in which more than a dozen people have now been killed, was part of a plot to destabilise her administration.

The country was plunged into chaos when the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian country in March 2013, toppling President Francois Bozize.

Seleka’s rule was impaired by abuses that prompted a backlash from the mostly Christian anti-balaka militia.

Michel Djotodia, Seleka’s leader, bowed to international pressure and went into exile in January.