{France has begun its military operation in the Central African Republican. The military deployment comes a day after the UN Security Council adopted resolution authorizing French intervention.}
French military patrols in the central African nation began overnight, France’s defense chief said Friday, as troops arrived in the capital Bangui.
“The operation has effectively started,” Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Radio France Internationale.
The goal of the mission, Le Drian said, is to provide “a minimum of security to allow for a humanitarian intervention to be put in place.”
The operation will include “securing roads and main routes to allow people to be able to at least go to hospital.”
He added that the streets of the capital had been calm a day after fighting left more than 100 people dead. It was the worst violence the capital has seen since rebels toppled President Francois Bozize in March.
The clashes between mainly Muslim former rebels, now in charge of the country, and a mix of Christian militia and fighters loyal to the ousted president came hours after the UN Security Council voted to approve French intervention.
The 15-membercouncil adopted a resolution allowing French and African Union troops to use force if necessary to stabilize the country. Included in the resolution was a mandate for 3,600 additional African troops and for France to double its current deployment in the country to 1,200.
Members of the council also asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to set up an inquiry into human rights abuses in the Central African Republic.
DW
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