Nobel peace prize laureate Desmond Tutu has warned that the Central African Republic (CAR) is "on the brink of genocide."

In a statement, the former Anglican bishop said that the struggle for power in the Central African Republic over the past year has turned into anarchy, hatred and ethnic cleansing.

“The country stands on the brink of genocide; some would say it has already commenced,” the statement said, adding, “It is the people of the Central African Republic who hold the key to sustainable peace. It is the people who must re-learn to live together.”

Tutu urged all sides in the African country to resolve their differences and re-learn to live together.

The deadly violence continues despite the presence of thousands of African and French troops in the country.

This comes as rights groups and international bodies have expressed serious concerns over the ongoing violence against Muslims in the war-ravaged country.

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

Christian militiamen, however, have been targeting the Muslim population as a whole.

The UN has described the displacement of the Muslims of the CAR as ethnic-religious cleansing.

French and African peacekeepers are on the ground in the country, but they have been unable to stop the violence and even in some occasions accused of killing Muslims.