Militants attack army base in CAR

By Celeste Hicks
BBC News, Chad

The gunmen are outside a peace process involving other CAR rebels

Gunmen in the Central African Republic have attacked a military base in the north-eastern town of Birao, killing at least two people and wounding several.

Civilians have been fleeing from the area since the early morning attack but UN peacekeepers are patrolling the area and the situation appears to be calm.

Strategic points in the town are under government control.

It is thought the gunmen are ethnic Kara militants not involved in the government's peace process.

Around 60 of them attacked the army base in Birao with heavy weapons including bazookas and machine guns.

Government soldiers defended the base, and the fighting was said to be intense, continuing for several hours.

Two bases belonging to a rebel group that is involved in the peace process were also attacked.

Several hundred people have sought shelter in the UN peacekeeping headquarters in the centre of town, where 300 Togolese and 50 French peacekeepers are based.

All non-government organisations working in the town have been evacuated.