10/12/2013 10:55
Central African Republic violence: US to fly in peacekeepers
The US is to help fly African Union peacekeeping troops into the Central African Republic (CAR), the BBC reported, citing officials.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered US forces "to begin transporting forces from Burundi to the Central African Republic," his spokesman said in a statement.
It follows a request from France, which has deployed 1,600 soldiers to the CAR.
President Obama has called for calm and the arrest of those behind the violence.
French soldiers started to remove weapons from fighters on Monday.
There was a brief exchange of gunfire between armed men and French forces near the airport in the capital, Bangui, as the disarmament began.
But officials said most of the militiamen had been cleared by Monday night.
It comes after days of communal fighting claimed around 400 lives.
Mr Hagel authorised the US depoyment following a request from French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian for "limited" military assistance, his spokesman Carl Woog said.
"In the near term, France has requested airlift support to enable African forces to deploy promptly to prevent the further spread of sectarian violence in the Central African Republic," he said.
"The United States is joining the international community in this effort because of our belief that immediate action is required to avert a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe in the Central African Republic, and because of our interest in peace and security in the region."
Two US military C-17 aircraft will fly about 850 troops from Burundi into the CAR within the next 24 hours, according to reports.
In an audio message, President Obama called on the government to join Muslim and Christian leaders in appealing for calm and "arrest those who are committing crimes."
White House officials said he recorded the message in Senegal as his plane stopped to refuel on the way to South Africa.