France has boosted its military force in the Central African Republic to 1600 troops.
Hundreds of people have been killed in inter-communal fighting over the last few days.
The French have deployed in the capital Bangui as well as in the northern town of Bossangoa, where a tense stand off prevails between Christian militia backed by disgruntled soldiers and fighters from the mainly Muslim Seleka group, the BBC reports.
President Michel Djotodia has admitted that he cannot control some of the armed groups that helped to bring him to power and that are now causing chaos in the country.
