Bangui

As many as 14 French soldiers could be implicated in claims which risk damaging reputation of France's peacekeeping operations in Africa.

French troops sent to protect tens of thousands displaced by the violence are now accused of exploiting the lawlessness engulfing the nation.

Camille Lepage, 26, who had spent months documenting the conflict in Central African Republic, died in a village near the town of Bouar.

French defence and foreign ministers 'strongly' urge EU members to do more, saying military contributions so far 'fall short' of what is needed.

Jean-Yves Le Drian starts a tour of the region to discuss the crisis in Central African republic (CAR) as fresh wave of violence erupts.

In visit to capital Bangui, defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian insists French mission in Central African Republic will be a success 'like Mali'.

President visits Central African Republic following killing of two soldiers in firefight near main airport during French troops' bid to restore calm.

France has just deployed troops in the Central African Republic capital, less than a year after it staged a military intervention in Mali. This latest use of force, coinciding with a French-African summit in Paris, has once again thrown the spotlight on what Paris's role in its former colonies should be. The old discredited policy of 'Françafrique', with its overtones of corruption, has been rejected. But what should replace it? As Thomas Cantaloube reports from the Central African Republic, President Hollande's current policy seems unclear.

Intervention of 1,600 French troops comes as President Hollande calls for setting up of African rapid deployment force 'within months'.

Fighting came to Bangui just as U.N. authorized a French and African intervention force to prevent bloodbath between Christians and Muslims.

Around French 200 troops have arrived, with another 500 expected imminently, in a bid to restore order after a rebel takeover.

French troops guarding the airport at the Central African Republic's capital Bangui, to which rebels are advancing, shot dead two Indian nationals.