Thousands of protesters descended on the Central African Republic's capital Monday to call for peace in the strife-torn country, which has been beset by reports of widespread rape and violence since a March coup.

Police told AFP 2,000 protesters had taken to the streets of Bangui, while organisers claimed 3,000 had taken part, marching through different neighbourhoods before converging on the city centre.

Protesters waved banners reading "The Central African Republic is one and undivided" and "We want peace and security for the Central African people."

Widespread unrest has gripped the country since March, when a coalition of rebel groups called Seleka deposed president Francois Bozize, who had ruled since a 2003 coup.

The rebels' leader, Michel Djotodia, was sworn in as president last month, but has so far struggled to restore stability.

Monday's protest, called by civil society groups and youth organisations, came as Djotodia gathered former Seleka rebels and officers of the regular army to discuss the country's dire security situation.

"The Central African armed forces and ex-Seleka will form a single army. Everyone defended his camp and the interests of his camp. Now you defend the interests of the Central African people," Djotodia told the national assembly.

The president last week ordered warlords from his former rebellion to give up their fiefdoms in the capital as troops from the African Union's International Support Mission to Central Africa (MISCA) moved in to subdue armed groups that have continued to terrorise the country.

The chief organiser of Monday's protest, Petit Delphon Kotto, told AFP: "We urge the leaders of the transition taking place in Central Africa to make every effort to promote the sustainable return of peace" in order to "get on with the reconstruction of the country."

The Central African Republic has been beset by reports of widespread rape, recruitment of child soldiers, weapons proliferation, huge population displacement and severe malnutrition since the March coup.