N'DJAMENA, Chad, April 19 (UPI) -- African leaders meeting in Chad say they will send more troops to the Central African Republic to help restore security following a rebel takeover.
An additional 2,000 soldiers will be sent after the former rebels asked neighboring countries for help, the BBC reported Friday.
Chadian President Idriss Deby described CAR as "a wound in the heart of central Africa" where "armed bands loot, hold to ransom and racketeer the population."
Deby said the additional troops would help restructure CAR's security forces.
South Africa has said it is removing its forces from CAR after at least 13 of its soldiers were killed.
The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, has warned that children in CAR are being increasingly wounded in the conflict and said that all armed groups should ensure children are protected.
