The Red Cross has said that at least 300 people have been killed in two days of violence in the capital of the Central African Republic.

The organisation said its staff stopped collecting bodies in Bangui as night fell but would resume over the weekend, and expected the toll to rise.

Violence in the CAR has raised fears of mass killings along sectarian lines.

Hundreds of French troops are arriving in the city as part of a UN effort to restore law and order.

Residents spoke of gun battles in their neighbourhoods and hundreds fled to the airport seeking the protection of some of the French troops based there.

Dozens of bodies were reported to have been left lying in the roads, in areas too dangerous for people to collect them.

The Red Cross' president in the CAR, Pastor Antoine Mbao Bogo, said his staffs had collected 281 bodies as of Friday night and expected the number to rise significantly when they resume their work.

French soldiers were out on patrol on Friday and warplanes flew over Bangui in an attempt to quell two days of violence.

Christian Mukosa of Amnesty International said the capital was "effectively in shutdown" with doctors unable to get to hospitals to treat the dying and injured because of the insecurity.

Michel Djotodia, who ousted Mr Bozize in March, installed himself as the first Muslim leader in the Christian-majority country.

The mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition which brought him to power has been accused of atrocities against Christians.

Christian communities have now set up "anti-balaka" self-defence forces, most of them loyal to Mr Bozize.

"Balaka" means machete in the local Sango and Mandja languages.

The Selekas have been officially disbanded and some of them integrated into the army, but correspondents say it is often not clear who is in charge, even in the capital.