Bangui: France raised alarm Friday over worsening violence in the Central African Republic, as UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged warring Christians and Muslims to stop the bloodshed that has left more than 600 dead in the past week.

As French and African troops struggle to restore security in the strife-torn nation, Ban warned that those committing atrocities would be “held to account”.

UN refugee agency UNHCR said that more than 600 people had been killed in the violence in CAR in the past week, including 450 in Bangui and 160 in other parts of the country.

Warning of a further deterioration in the situation, the agency said the death toll was likely to rise as new bodies were found.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also warned of rising violence as he met some of the 1,600 French troops deployed in Bangui.

“The spiral of confrontation has abruptly worsened,” Le Drian said, also warning of “the early beginnings of a humanitarian crisis”.

A week after France sent troops into its former colony to bolster an African peacekeeping force, bands of armed thugs continue to roam the streets, and heavy bursts of gunfire still ring out intermittently.

The majority Christian and chronically unstable nation was plunged into chaos after a March coup by mostly Muslim rebels ousted president Francois Bozize.

Some members of the Seleka rebel group went rogue, spreading terror which government forces could not stop.

Months of massacres, rapes and looting followed, with locals forming Christian vigilante groups in response.

The UN’s human rights office said that 27 Muslims had been killed by militia in one village and raised concerns about “retaliatory attacks between Christians and Muslim communities”.

“We are alarmed at the increasing tensions among religious communities,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN high commissioner for human rights.

UN chief Ban urged religious and community leaders to act as messengers of peace to help end the violence tearing apart communities who have long lived together in peace.

“Do not allow the voices of hatred to sow division where none existed before,” he said in a radio message.

“Whatever your faith or background, you share the same history and the same future,” he added. “The bloodshed must stop.”

As concerns rise about an increasingly desperate humanitarian situation, Ban assured the country the United Nations “is committed to helping your country recover from this crisis”.

“You are not alone and we will not abandon you.”

UNHCR said the violence had forced nearly 160,000 residents of Bangui from their homes in the past week. They were spread over some 40 sites, including in camps, churches and mosques.

Many were living rough, their misery compounded by recent downpours.

At a camp of 45,000 displaced people by Bangui airport, the distribution of food on Friday turned violent with the plundering of rations of rice, oil and beans.

“It’s four days since my three children and I have had anything to eat,” said Jean-Marie Namesene, 41, a civil servant who managed to get his portion before the looting began. “Thank you, thank you to the people who did this.”

Others were not so lucky.

“I’ve been waiting for six hours, no one lets me pass,” said Yvette Kimina, a 32-year-old with three children, while another desperate woman in the queue stood breast-feeding her baby.

Le Drian responded to accusations from the Muslim community that France favoured the country’s Christians, insisting that French troops “will be impartial to the end” and were “very conscious of the importance of their mission”.

Despite some signs of life returning to normal, the situation remained extremely tense in parts of Bangui.

Heavy exchanges of gunfire were heard Friday in the western neighbourhood of Miskine, residents said.

“It was horrible. There was firing everywhere,” said one resident, who gave her name only as Jennifer.

Humanitarian groups have urged the United Nations to do more to provide desperately needed aid to Bangui and on Friday UN children’s agency UNICEF said it was sending a major airlift of supplies to the capital.