Government forces killed seven rebels south of the capital in a rare firefight this week, a government spokesperson said.
The rebels, loyal to renegade Pastor Frederic Bitsangou, were killed on Tuesday near Kinkala, 70km south of Brazzaville, spokesperson Alain Akouala said late on Thursday.
Four government soldiers were wounded, he said. It was not clear what had sparked the battle.
A rebel representative in Brazzaville, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the exchange of fire, but said no rebels were killed. Four rebels were wounded, he said.
Akouala played down the brief battle, saying the ”unfortunate incident doesn’t signify the resumption of war” in the country’s southern Pool region, which has long been a stronghold of Bitsangou’s faction.
The area has been relatively quiet since March 2003, when the insurgents agreed a peace deal with the government, putting an official end to hostilities.
The rebels, who call themselves Ninjas after ancient Japanese warriors, fought in the country’s latest civil war in 1998/99.
Authorities invited Bitsangou to take up residence in a government villa in Brazzaville, but he has so far declined the offer, remaining in his stronghold in Vindza, 100km northwest of the capital. — Sapa-AP