At least 20 people have been killed in a grenade attack in Bangui, the restive capital of the Central African Republic (CAR).

AFP quoted Public Security Minister Denis Wangao Kizimale as saying on Friday that "a group of extremists, well known to the police, threw hand grenades at a crowd that was attending” a funeral service at 11:00 p.m. (2200 GMT) on Thursday.

"At least 20 people were killed and 11 others wounded and are currently undergoing treatment in hospital," he added.

Several children and a pregnant woman were among the victims.

"The government condemns this odious act. Already, an inquiry has been opened to determine the circumstances of this crime. Those responsible will be found and brought to justice," said Kizimale.

The conflict in the CAR erupted after Christian militias launched coordinated attacks on the mostly Muslim Seleka group, which toppled the government last March.

French and African peacekeeping forces are on the ground in the country, but they have been unable to end the carnage and even in some occasions they have been accused of killing Muslims.

France currently has around 2,000 troops in the country, while the African Union has three times that number.

According to the United Nations, more than 950,000 people have been displaced and thousands more killed by the violence in the CAR.