BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — The corpses of 17 people were laid out in front of the United Nations peacekeeping offices in Central African Republic's capital on Wednesday in a furious protest against a new operation against armed groups that has targeted a largely Muslim neighborhood.

The protest came as U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix was visiting the deeply impoverished nation, which has faced deadly interreligious and intercommunal fighting since 2013. The Red Cross quickly removed the bodies.

The U.N. said a Rwandan peacekeeper was killed and eight others were wounded Tuesday during "an exchange of fire with armed elements" for several hours in the capital, Bangui.

The U.N. said the attack occurred two days after its peacekeepers and local security forces launched a joint operation in the largely Muslim neighborhood of PK5 to arrest and disarm armed criminal groups.

But a statement by Central African Republic's defense minister said the country's armed forces had not been involved. The minister urged residents of the capital to remain calm.

The U.N. peacekeeping chief in a separate statement said the new operation against armed groups was meant to protect the population from "criminal elements."