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Hollande urges measures to secure embassy after Bangui attack

27 December 2012 04:19 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. French President Francois Holande on Wednesday ordered swift measures to protect the French embassy and nationals in the Central African Republic (CAR) after protesters attacked the diplomatic compound in the capital Bangui, APA reports quoting Xinhua .

In a statement released by the presidency office, the Elysee, Hollande "asked the defense minister to take all measures to ensure the safety of the diplomatic compound and the protection of (French) nationals with the Central African authorities."

According to the defense ministry, about 250 French soldiers who were deployed in the former French colony for a peacekeeping mission, have reinforced gendarmes already protecting the embassy.

Earlier on Wednesday, hundreds of people protested outside the French embassy, throwing stones at the building and tearing down the French flag, French ambassador to Central African Republic was quoted by the news channel BFMTV as saying.

Furthermore, France's flag carrier Air France was forced to turn back its weekly Paris-Bangui flight due to the unrest in the Afircan country.