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| Central African Republic 'descending into chaos' - UN | Central African Republic 'descending into chaos' - UN |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Central African Republic (CAR) is descending into "complete chaos", the UN deputy secretary general has warned, calling for urgent action. | The Central African Republic (CAR) is descending into "complete chaos", the UN deputy secretary general has warned, calling for urgent action. |
| Jan Eliasson urged the Security Council to strengthen the African Union-led force in the country, and to turn it into a UN peacekeeping operation. | Jan Eliasson urged the Security Council to strengthen the African Union-led force in the country, and to turn it into a UN peacekeeping operation. |
| The CAR has been in turmoil since rebels seized power in March. | The CAR has been in turmoil since rebels seized power in March. |
| France, the former colonial power, has confirmed it would contribute about 1,000 troops to the force. | |
| "We cannot have a country fall apart like that," Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday. "There is the violence, massacres and humanitarian chaos that follow a collapse." . | |
| He added that - as was the case in Mali - the troops would be deployed for "a short period, in the range of six months". | He added that - as was the case in Mali - the troops would be deployed for "a short period, in the range of six months". |
| France currently has about 400 soldiers stationed in the CAR capital, Bangui. Their mission is to protect French nationals. | |
| 'Left to fester' | 'Left to fester' |
| Mr Eliasson said there had been an surge in sexual violence, torture, summary executions and sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians. | Mr Eliasson said there had been an surge in sexual violence, torture, summary executions and sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians. |
| "The CAR is becoming a breeding ground for extremists and armed groups in a region that is already suffering from conflict and instability," he said. | "The CAR is becoming a breeding ground for extremists and armed groups in a region that is already suffering from conflict and instability," he said. |
| "If this situation is left to fester, it may develop into a religious and ethnic conflict with long-standing consequences, even a civil war that could spread into neighbouring countries." | "If this situation is left to fester, it may develop into a religious and ethnic conflict with long-standing consequences, even a civil war that could spread into neighbouring countries." |
| CAR Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye earlier said France had agreed to send 800 extra troops to the conflict-torn nation. | CAR Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye earlier said France had agreed to send 800 extra troops to the conflict-torn nation. |
| He said the deployment would take place after a vote in the Security Council. | He said the deployment would take place after a vote in the Security Council. |
| The UN Security Council is expected next week to adopt a resolution authorising the deployment of African Union troops with French support in the impoverished nation. | The UN Security Council is expected next week to adopt a resolution authorising the deployment of African Union troops with French support in the impoverished nation. |
| "A country in the heart of Africa is descending into complete chaos before our eyes," Mr Eliasson told the 15-member council on Monday. | "A country in the heart of Africa is descending into complete chaos before our eyes," Mr Eliasson told the 15-member council on Monday. |
| "The situation requires prompt and decisive action." | "The situation requires prompt and decisive action." |
| Earlier this month, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said communal violence in the CAR risked spiralling out of control. | Earlier this month, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said communal violence in the CAR risked spiralling out of control. |
| Mr Ban backed the establishment of a UN peacekeeping force before the crisis leads to widespread atrocities. | Mr Ban backed the establishment of a UN peacekeeping force before the crisis leads to widespread atrocities. |
| The rebels - known as the Seleka - have replaced President Bozize with their own commander Michel Djotodia. | The rebels - known as the Seleka - have replaced President Bozize with their own commander Michel Djotodia. |
| Armed gangs, mainly former Seleka rebels, who are mostly Muslim, now control most of the landlocked country. | Armed gangs, mainly former Seleka rebels, who are mostly Muslim, now control most of the landlocked country. |
| Mr Djotodia has formally disbanded the rebels and integrated many fighters into the national army. | Mr Djotodia has formally disbanded the rebels and integrated many fighters into the national army. |
| But former rebels linked to Seleka have continued to launch attacks on scores of villages, prompting the emergence of local civilian protection groups. | But former rebels linked to Seleka have continued to launch attacks on scores of villages, prompting the emergence of local civilian protection groups. |
| The government in Bangui denies targeting any group, but recognises the rise in inter-community violence. | The government in Bangui denies targeting any group, but recognises the rise in inter-community violence. |