Baku-APA. EU nations are considering a joint military operation in Central Africa amid looming fears of civilian massacres, but there may be little appetite for boots on the ground, experts said Wednesday, APA reports quoting AFP.
Ambassadors to the European Union will be asked Friday whether or not to approve the rapid deployment of a European force of several hundred troops to help African and French peacekeepers already on the ground to restore security, said an EU official speaking on condition of anonymity.
"The question (to ambassadors) will be: 'Do you think the situation in the Central African Republic merits European involvement?'
"If they agree, detailed options will be put on the table Monday or Tuesday," the official said.
A final decision would be taken by the bloc's 28 foreign ministers at talks in Brussels on January 20.
As sectarian violence worsens between Christian and Muslims in the impoverished state, "EU states don't want to stand accused of standing by and passively watching. Nobody wants a new Rwanda," an EU diplomat said.
"But on the other hand there's little interest in sending troops to this lost corner of the world."
Under a UN mandate, 1,600 French and 4,000 African peacekeepers have deployed in the Central African Republic in recent weeks to end violence between Christian militias and ex-rebels who installed the country's first Muslim leader in a coup in March.
More than 1,000 people are believed to have died last month alone with almost one million people driven from their homes, including half of the residents of the capital, Bangui.
'1,000' troops needed
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