PARIS, March 5 (Reuters) - France sent an infantry company to strengthen its forces in the Central African Republic after clashes with rebels at the weekend, a defence ministry spokesman in Paris said on Monday.

The spokesman said the company consisting of around 100 soldiers was sent in from Gabon after anti-government rebels attacked French positions in the northern CAR town of Birao.

France sent special forces backed by helicopters and combat jets to drive rebel fighters from Birao and other parts of its former colony in December and has kept forces there ever since.

The rebel Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR), which is fighting to oust the government of President Francois Bozize, said it attacked Birao and its airport at the weekend.

The poor, landlocked country has gone through years of turmoil with a series of coups, army mutinies and rebel uprisings, especially in the northwest.

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