President Francois Hollande has defended France's military intervention in the Central African Republic after two French soldiers were killed in the capital Bangui.
President Francois Hollande in Bangui. Photo: AFP
Speaking in Bangui, he said the deployment of 1600 troops last week had been necessary to avoid carnage.
The two French paratroopers were killed in combat near Bangui airport on Monday night.
The CAR has been in chaos since rebel leader Michel Djotodia ousted President Francois Bozize in March.
"It was time to act. In Bangui itself, nearly 400 people were killed. There was no time to procrastinate," said Mr Hollande on Tuesday.
The BBC reports 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".
Following a request from France, the United States announced on Monday it would help fly African Union peacekeeping troops into the CAR.
Last week, Paris said the African Union would increase the size of its existing force of 2500 peacekeepers to 6000.
