Two french soldiers killed in CAR...BBC

Two French soldiers killed in CAR.

French soldiers have been disarming militia fighters
Two French soldiers have been killed in combat in the Central African Republic, the French presidency says.

A statement said President Francois Hollande "learned with deep sadness" that the two had been killed overnight in the capital Bangui.

They are the first French deaths since President Hollande deployed 1,600 soldiers to the CAR last week.

The CAR has been in chaos since rebel leader Michel Djotodia ousted President Francois Bozize in March.

Since then, rival Muslim and Christian fighters have been accused of killing hundreds of people.

Claude Bartolone, speaker of France's National Assembly, told reporters that the two paratroopers had been involved in a clash near Bangui airport.

"They were injured and very quickly taken to the surgical unit, but unfortunately they could not be saved," he said.

The statement from President Hollande's office said the soldiers had "lost their lives to save many others".

"The president expresses his profound respect for the sacrifice of these two soldiers and renews his full confidence in the French forces committed - alongside African forces - to restoring security in the Central African Republic, to protecting the people and guaranteeing access to humanitarian aid," it said.

Fighting between Christians and mainly Muslim Seleka rebels has claimed many lives
President Hollande is attending Nelson Mandela's memorial service in South Africa and is due to travel on to Bangui later on Tuesday.

The BBC's Thomas Fessy in the northern town of Bossangoa says French troops - along with African peacekeepers - launched an operation on Monday to forcibly disarm militiamen as well as predominantly Muslim fighters who claimed to be part of the new national army.

Tensions remain high in the country, our correspondent adds.

Extra French troops were sent into the CAR last Friday after the UN Security Council backed a mandate to restore order "by all necessary measures" the previous evening.

The UN resolution followed a surge of violence involving Christian self-defence militias that had sprung up after a series of attacks by mainly Muslim fighters from the former rebel coalition.

The Red Cross said 394 people were killed in three days of fighting in Bangui. Many of the victims are believed to have been children.

The French army said it has restored some stability in the capital by Monday night.

Following a request from France, the US announced on Monday it would help fly African Union peacekeeping troops into the CAR.

Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered US forces "to begin transporting forces from Burundi to the Central African Republic," his spokesman said.

US President Barack Obama has called for calm and asked the CAR's transitional government to arrest those who are committing crimes.