Loyalist troops exchanged fire with supporters of the Central African Republic's sacked army chief tonight, triggering fears of fresh bloodshed after a failed coup attempt in May which cost scores of lives.
Hospital sources in the capital Bangui said a child was wounded by a stray bullet during exchanges between President Ange-Felix Patasse's troops and followers of General Francois Bozize, who was sacked last month.
Patasse's spokesman said a commission of inquiry into the May putsch had delivered a summons to Bozize, and some members of his security staff appeared to believe it was an attempt to arrest him.
"It was all just the result of rumours and the situation is calm," Prosper Ndouba said. "Some misunderstanding is due to ill-informed elements. They think that the aim is to harm General Bozize."
Bozize, who had already appeared before the inquiry, took refuge in the barracks of the Territorial Infantry battalion, officials said.
Sources close to a meeting between representatives of the two sides said it had broken down without reaching a deal, although troops favouring Bozize had removed a roadblock afterwards.
There is still deadlock, the source said.