Comoros military heads to disperse armed rebels from Anjouan

The Comoros military on Saturday started an operation to disperse armed rebels who had taken control of Mutsamudu's city centre on the island of Anjouan earlier this week, a government minister said.

"The army has started to take up positions inside the medina (old city centre), no shots have been fired. The forces are content to secure the medina so that the population can move freely," said Mahamoud Salim Hafi, who has led the government response to the uprising.

Security forces and rebels opposed to President Azali Assoumani have fought in the narrow streets of the medina quarter in Mutsamudu since Monday, with at least three people killed.

Hafi said some rebels remained holed up in houses in the medina, but said no military assault would be needed to clear them out.

"I guarantee that from Monday, life will resume normally in Mutsamudu," he added.

An amnesty deal signed between the main opposition party and government on Friday appeared to have been rejected by the rebels, who were estimated to be about 40 strong.

Tensions in the Comoros have mounted in recent months as President Assoumani bids to extend term limits through constitutional changes that could see him rule for 11 more years.

Assoumani won a referendum in July allowing him to scrap the rotation of the presidency between Comoros' three main islands after one term, disadvantaging opposition-leaning Anjouan, which was next in line.