Published on Dec 6, 2013
PROVIDED BY CNNNEXT.COM
French President Francois Hollande says Paris will take immediate military action against the escalation of sectarian violence in the Central African Republic.
Earlier a UN Security Council resolution authorized French troops to join an African peacekeeping force.
Fresh clashes between local militias in the capital Bangui have killed over 100 people.
Muslim rebels, who seized power in March, are fighting with Christians who support the ousted president.
This has sparked fears that the conflict could expand into a full-blown sectarian war.
Hundreds of French troops are already deployed in the republic and neighbouring states.
Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of Pan-African News Wire, says that improving the security situation in the country is not France's main goal there.
