U.N. secretary general Ban Ki-moon recommended to the Security Council Friday that sanctions be taken against elements of the Seleka coalition responsible for reprisal attacks in the Central African Republic.

In a report that the Council is supposed take up on Wednesday, Ban said he was deeply concerned by "a total breakdown of law and order" since the rebel coalition took power in March.

Four months after a violent coup, the people of the Central African Republic are "living in a constant fear" as rule of law has collapsed, a top U.N. rights official said Thursday

U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic outlined a state of chaos in the troubled nation, joining several others in urging the international community not to forget the plight of the country.

The president of the Central African Republic, Michel Djotodia, said Tuesday that the leader he ousted in a violent coup can return from exile when the situation in the country stabilizes.

Djotodia, who toppled president Francois Bozize in March, made the comments during a visit to Benin, his second stop on a west African diplomatic tour.

The African Union suspended Egypt from the continental body Friday after the ouster of president Mohammed Morsi, in line with its strict rules against unconstitutional changes of government.

The AU's Peace and Security "council decided to suspend the participation of Egypt in AU activities until the restitution of constitutional order", said an official statement.

Clashes between ex-rebels and armed civilians killed six people in Bangui as anger mounted over abuses by the Central African Republic's new rulers, police and medics said Saturday.

The violence broke out on Friday in a northern neighborhood of the capital when a student believed to have been kidnapped by ex-rebels was found dead, a police official said on condition of anonymity.

Relief agencies in the Central African Republic warned on Thursday that the entire population of the poor, landlocked nation faced a serious humanitarian crisis after a coup in March.

"The whole population of the Central African Republic, 4.6 million people, is affected by a severe humanitarian crisis in the wake of the coup d'etat and the political instability that followed," said a statement signed by a dozen groups including Action Against Hunger and Save the Children.

A dozen relief agencies in the Central African Republic on Thursday warned that the whole population of the poor, landlocked nation faced a serious humanitarian crisis after a coup in March.

"The whole population of the Central African Republic, 4.6 million people, is affected by a severe humanitarian crisis in the wake of the coup d'etat and the political instability that followed it," said a statement signed notably by Action Against Hunger, Save the Children and Secours Catholique (Catholic Relief).

At least 37 people were killed when a gold mine collapsed at Ndassima in the middle of the Central African Republic, where President Michel Djotodia has declared three days of mourning, national radio reported Tuesday.

The accident occurred on Sunday after a landslide in very heavy rain "led to the death of almost 40 of our compatriots", presidential spokesman Prosper Ndouba said on the radio.

Fighters loyal to the Central African Republic's new government killed five rebels near the Cameroon border, a military source said Monday, adding that their leader escaped the weekend attack on horseback.

The forces of the ruling Seleka movement launched an attack on the Democratic Front for the Central African People (FDPC), former allies, in the western region of Baboua on Saturday, the source said.

Armed men claiming to be members of the ruling Seleka movement in the Central African Republic killed seven people and wounded several others in an attack on the central town of Bouca, a military source said Monday.

"Armed men who said they were Seleka forces attacked Bouca on Sunday morning, killing seven people, wounding many others with bullets and burning down almost 20 homes. The assailants... also took away possessions and promised to return. Most of the inhabitants have fled the town to take refuge in the bush," the source said.