Bangui: Recent violence between rival militia groups has claimed at least six lives at Bambari in the centre of the highly unstable Central African Republic, police said Friday.

“Five people were killed and several injured between Tuesday and Wednesday in clashes that erupted in Bambari between two anti-balaka (“anti-machete”) groups for reasons not yet known. The victims were, for the most part, anti-balaka,” a police source told AFP on condition of anonymity. “Following the attacks, certain anti-balaka on Wednesday night went to the house of a local community leader and killed him, accusing him of betraying them. The attackers also burned his house.”

The trading town has since June been the scene of violent clashes that left 100 dead and at least 200 injured, mostly civilians. Mostly Muslim Seleka fighters backed by armed Muslim civilians have battled the anti-balaka, who emerged in mainly Christian communities to avenge attacks and atrocities.