Minusca
Rebels launch attacks close to C.Africa capital
The simultaneous dawn assaults on army units were the first close to the capital since President Faustin Archange Touadera was re-elected in a December ballot.
Only a small share of the population is likely to be able to vote freely, as two-thirds of the country has been under the control of armed groups for the past eight years.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, strongly condemned the latest incident, and called on the CAR authorities to investigate the 'heinous' assaults.
On Saturday, the Central African Republic's government accused former president Francois Bozize of leading an attempted coup as tensions mount ahead of key presidential and legislative elections on Sunday.
The UN mission to the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) said it deployed forces on Friday following an offensive by the 3R, Patriotic Movement for Central Africa (MPC) and "anti-Balaka" militias.
A new report to the UN says impediments to peace range from attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers to 'doublespeak' from rebel forces, banditry and arms trafficking.
Clashes continued into Sunday morning and smoke rose from the neighbourhood as residents fled to safety in other parts of the capital.
The clashes come amid a week of intense violence between mainly Muslim fighters from the former Seleka rebel coalition and anti-balaka Christian militias.