At least 15 killed, including priest, in Central Africa clashes

At least 15 people, including a priest, were killed and several others wounded in clashes Wednesday in the capital of the strife-torn Central African Republic, a military source said.
      
The violence erupted in the afternoon close to the Our Lady of Fatima church in central Bangui, where thousands of displaced people have sought refuge, according to a police officer and a military source.
      
A 76-year-old priest, Paul-Emile Nzale, was among those killed in the violence near the church, Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga told AFP.
      
"One can only feel sadness about these deaths. For several days there have been clashes in this neighbourhood," he added.
      
The church is in a neighbourhood where both Christians and Muslims live. The majority Christian country has been wracked by relentless tit-for-tat attacks between Christian vigilante groups and the mainly Muslim ex-Seleka rebels who had seized power in a coup which ended in January.
      
An initial toll spoke of 10 people killed by late afternoon.
      
Later Wednesday that figure had risen to 15 dead with a further 30 people wounded as the violence continued, according to a military source in Bangui.
      
Others sources reported even heavier casualties. The African peacekeeping force in the country, known as MISCA, spoke of 20 people dead.
      
Five bodies were taken to the hospital morgue and the situation remained very tense, an AFP correspondent reported.
      
Shots were heard in several districts of Bangui, notably in Boy Rabe and Fouh, fiefdoms of the Christian "anti-balaka" militia.
      
Exchanges of gunfire also...