At least two people have been killed and 20 others wounded when heavy fighting broke out in a Muslim enclave of Central African Republic’s capital Bangui as people voted in a constitutional referendum.
Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said on Sunday that it treated 12 people for gunshot wounds.
Gunfire and the explosion of rocket-propelled grenades were heard in the PK5 neighbourhood, witnesses told the Reuters news agency.
Residents of the isolated enclave, which was visited by Pope Francis during a trip to Bangui last month, marched to the headquarters of the country’s UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, to complain they were unable to cast their ballots.
The mission responded by sending soldiers to protect voters and poll workers in PK5.
The new constitution – seen as crucial to restoring stability in the restive country – is set to replace a transitional charter that currently governs the former French colony.
About one-quarter of CAR’s 4.7 million population has been displaced since March 2013, when Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew Christian president Francois Bozize.