C.Africa Militia Chiefs' Jailbreak Foiled

African peacekeepers on Sunday thwarted an attempt by leaders of the Central African Republic's anti-balaka militia to break out of Bangui prison with the help of the facility's head, sources said.

The jailbreak was stopped "thanks to the vigilance of the Rwandan unit" in the African MISCA force, said a statement by the peacekeepers.

"For five minutes we heard shots, then nothing for a while and the shots started again," an expatriate, who lives near the prison, told Agence France Presse.

Armored vehicles of the MISCA force later patrolled the area.

Other leaders of the mainly Christian militia which has been terrorizing the country's Muslim minority told AFP the prisoners were complaining about the lack of food.

The group that attempted the jailbreak was arrested in a mop-up operation carried out by the peacekeepers on February 15 in Bangui, the force said.

MISCA members and residents said a firefight between militiamen and Chadian MISCA troops in Bangui left several wounded on both sides late Sunday.