A town leader says that at least five people have been killed after rebels in Senegal's restive south raided a village and targeted a bank.

Sana Diassy, the president of the rural community of Kafountine about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Zinguinchor, says a group of 30 men armed with rifles stole a large sum from a local bank. He said soldiers responded and at least two rebels and three villagers were killed in the fighting.

The Movement of the Democratic Forces of Casamance has waged a low-level insurgency against Senegal's government since the early 1980s.

Casamance has been plagued by sporadic violence as the rebels have fought for independence and against each other. The Casamance region is separated from the rest of Senegal by the nation of Gambia.