BANGUI, Central African Republic (AFP) - Gunfire erupted on Tuesday (Dec 8) in the Central African Republic's capital Bangui, where protesters erected barricades after an announcement that ex-president Francois Bozize was barred from running for election.

A French embassy text message sent to citizens said there were "barricades and gunfire" in at least eight districts in the city and advised French citizens "to avoid these areas".

The unrest followed the Constitutional Court's rejection of Bozize's bid to run for president in Dec 27 elections.