DHAKA: At least 25 people have died in a collapse at a gold mine 60 km (40 miles) north of the Central African Republic town of Bambari, a spokesman for the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels said on Friday.

The mine at Ndassima is carved deep into a forested hilltop north of Seleka's military headquarters in Bambari. It is owned by Canada's Axmin (AXM.V: Quote) but was overrun by rebels more than year ago and now forms part of an illicit economy driving sectarian conflict in the country.

Source: Reuters

BDST: 1658 HRS, AUG 22, 2014