UN Security Council approves deployment of troops to CAR

Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The United Nations Security Council approved a resolution today to deploy African and French troops to the violence-ravaged Central African Republic.

The passage of the resolution came on the same day that gunfire erupted in the capital city of Bangui as Christian militias attacked Muslim former rebels who now control the city. At least 16 people were killed in today's violence.

The U.N. resolution allows for 3,600 soldiers under the auspices of the African Union and deployment of an additional 1,000 French troops to augment the French force of 400 already in-country. The Security Council also voted to impose an arms embargo on the Central African Republic.

A CAR representative told the Security Council today that the UN's vote would "give reasons to hope for a new dawn" in his country.

The Central African Republic has been rocked by violence since Seleka, a Muslim-backed group, took control of the capital in March and removed Christian President François Bozizé.

[BBC] [CNN]