Hundreds of prisoners escape in Central African Republic

Hundreds of inmates at a prison in the Central African Republic have escaped in a wave of violence that left dozens dead, international media reports

According to reports, members of a Christian militia known as the anti-Balaka attacked the prison on Monday, freeing hundreds of soldiers and militiamen. The attack came after a Muslim taxi driver was killed and clashes between Christian militia and Muslim groups erupted on Saturday.

Over 30 people are thought to have been killed since the latest spat of violence started in the weekend, including at least three teenagers, according to Unicef. The agency further added that one of the teens was beheaded.

Inmates escaped from the Ngaragba jail in the capital Bangui on Monday evening.

"There is no-one in the prison," Reuters news agency quoted a senior security source as saying.

Thousands of protesters marched on the presidential palace on Monday to call for greater power for the army, which has seen its powers reduced since an interim government was installed in January 2014, the BBC adds.

Interim President Catherine Samba Panza has cut short her trip to the UN General Assembly, and presidential elections are scheduled for October, a month before Pope Francis visits Bangui.

The country has experienced extensive violence since a mainly Muslim rebel group known as the Seleka, came to power in March 2013. The Seleka group was then ousted, sparking a wave of violent reprisals against the Muslim population, thousands of whom fled their homes.