Government officials in Tajikistan say at least five people have been killed in a gunbattle between factions of the Islamist opposition in the capital, Dushanbe.

The two groups exchanged automatic weapons fire in the streets of the city centre, sending civilians running for cover.

The fighting broke out near the offices of the National Reconciliation Commission where opposition leaders were holding talks.

A ten-year-old boy was reported to be among those killed.

There was a similar clash last week.

The Tajik Islamist opposition signed a peace treaty with the government last year in a bid to end five years of civil war.