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African Union to boost Central African Republic force African Union to boost Central African Republic force
(35 minutes later)
The African Union has authorised increasing the number of troops deployed in the Central African Republic to 6,000, say officials.The African Union has authorised increasing the number of troops deployed in the Central African Republic to 6,000, say officials.
The country has been in chaos since rebel leader Michel Djotodia ousted President Francois Bozize in March.The country has been in chaos since rebel leader Michel Djotodia ousted President Francois Bozize in March.
The AU troops are attempting to restore order and disarm the militia who now control much of the country.The AU troops are attempting to restore order and disarm the militia who now control much of the country.
France's defence minister has warned the country is facing "the early beginnings of a humanitarian crisis".France's defence minister has warned the country is facing "the early beginnings of a humanitarian crisis".
Jean-Yves Le Drian was in the CAR capital, Bangui, on Friday to meet some of the 1,600 French troops deployed there, and to hold talks with officials. France is the former colonial power in CAR.Jean-Yves Le Drian was in the CAR capital, Bangui, on Friday to meet some of the 1,600 French troops deployed there, and to hold talks with officials. France is the former colonial power in CAR.
Mr Le Drian told the troops the "spiral of confrontation has abruptly worsened".Mr Le Drian told the troops the "spiral of confrontation has abruptly worsened".
Leading aid charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has strongly criticised the UN's humanitarian system, accusing it of dragging its feet over the CAR crisis.Leading aid charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has strongly criticised the UN's humanitarian system, accusing it of dragging its feet over the CAR crisis.
El Ghassim Wane, director of the AU's Peace and Security Department, (PSC) told Reuters that approval had been given to increase troop numbers to 6,000 "depending on the needs".El Ghassim Wane, director of the AU's Peace and Security Department, (PSC) told Reuters that approval had been given to increase troop numbers to 6,000 "depending on the needs".
He said the PSC would review the situation again in three months.He said the PSC would review the situation again in three months.
'Firing everywhere''Firing everywhere'
Mr Djotodia, formerly the leader of the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance, installed himself as the first Muslim leader in the Christian-majority country in March.Mr Djotodia, formerly the leader of the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance, installed himself as the first Muslim leader in the Christian-majority country in March.
Seleka has now been officially disbanded but its fighters are accused of atrocities against Christians.Seleka has now been officially disbanded but its fighters are accused of atrocities against Christians.
The conflict quickly became sectarian, as Christian self-defence militias sprung up after a series of attacks by the disbanded Seleka forces.The conflict quickly became sectarian, as Christian self-defence militias sprung up after a series of attacks by the disbanded Seleka forces.
More than 500 people have been killed in the past week and an estimated 10% of the CAR's 4.6 million people have fled their homes - many are now living in makeshift camps.More than 500 people have been killed in the past week and an estimated 10% of the CAR's 4.6 million people have fled their homes - many are now living in makeshift camps.
Intense clashes were again reported in several districts of Bangui on Friday. French soldiers were involved in at least one exchange of fire with former rebels.Intense clashes were again reported in several districts of Bangui on Friday. French soldiers were involved in at least one exchange of fire with former rebels.
"It was horrible. There was firing everywhere," a Bangui resident who gave her name as Jennifer told the AFP news agency."It was horrible. There was firing everywhere," a Bangui resident who gave her name as Jennifer told the AFP news agency.
"I don't know who it was, I didn't try to see if it was Seleka, the French or someone else. It lasted a long time.""I don't know who it was, I didn't try to see if it was Seleka, the French or someone else. It lasted a long time."
CAR Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye has warned there is an urgent need to disarm all sides.CAR Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye has warned there is an urgent need to disarm all sides.
"Religious communities that have always lived together in perfect harmony are now massacring each other," the Associated Press quotes him as saying."Religious communities that have always lived together in perfect harmony are now massacring each other," the Associated Press quotes him as saying.
"The situation must be stopped as soon as possible.""The situation must be stopped as soon as possible."
Save the Children has said it is treating children as young as three for machete and gunshot wounds, some requiring amputations, and that some 6,000 children had been conscripted into armed groups.
The charity's CEO, Justin Forsyth, welcomed the French and AU deployments, but said the UN must "urgently deploy outside of Bangui, to the remotest regions where so much of the violence goes on unseen".
UN criticisedUN criticised
The first of 850 Burundian troops operating under the AU mission flew into Bangui on Friday on a US military aircraft.The first of 850 Burundian troops operating under the AU mission flew into Bangui on Friday on a US military aircraft.
Their commander, Lt-Col Potien Hakizimana, said their mission included "ensuring the disarmament of militia forces, securing the population and property, and help restore authority over the entire country".Their commander, Lt-Col Potien Hakizimana, said their mission included "ensuring the disarmament of militia forces, securing the population and property, and help restore authority over the entire country".
Aid agencies say the humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating.Aid agencies say the humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating.
A plane carrying 77 tonnes of aid, including sanitation supplies and plastic sheeting, was due to land in Bangui on Friday afternoon.A plane carrying 77 tonnes of aid, including sanitation supplies and plastic sheeting, was due to land in Bangui on Friday afternoon.
But in an open letter published on Thursday, MSF lamented "the unacceptable performance of the United Nations humanitarian system in the Central African Republic over the last year".But in an open letter published on Thursday, MSF lamented "the unacceptable performance of the United Nations humanitarian system in the Central African Republic over the last year".
MSF's general director Arjan Hehenkamp told the BBC on Friday that the UN appeared to have gone into "security lockdown" since French troops arrived, despite the ongoing crisis.MSF's general director Arjan Hehenkamp told the BBC on Friday that the UN appeared to have gone into "security lockdown" since French troops arrived, despite the ongoing crisis.
"There needs to be a dramatic scale up of assistance and presence throughout the country in order to give confidence to the population, but primarily to give assistance to the population," he said, citing the example of 15,000 people stranded at the airport without food of shelter."There needs to be a dramatic scale up of assistance and presence throughout the country in order to give confidence to the population, but primarily to give assistance to the population," he said, citing the example of 15,000 people stranded at the airport without food of shelter.
One woman told the Associated Press she had been waiting at the airport with her 10 children for a week without finding food.One woman told the Associated Press she had been waiting at the airport with her 10 children for a week without finding food.
"The kids are so hungry - they keep asking for food but we have nothing.""The kids are so hungry - they keep asking for food but we have nothing."
The UN's humanitarian co-ordinator in Bangui, Kaarina Immonen, acknowledged that there had been problems getting aid to people at the airport, partly because it was such a strategically important location.The UN's humanitarian co-ordinator in Bangui, Kaarina Immonen, acknowledged that there had been problems getting aid to people at the airport, partly because it was such a strategically important location.
She told the BBC that aid distribution was now under way, but taking place a short distance from the airport, to ensure the safety of those in need.She told the BBC that aid distribution was now under way, but taking place a short distance from the airport, to ensure the safety of those in need.