Central African Republic, long unstable, descended deeper into chaos following a coup last year by the Seleka alliance, which proceeded to commit atrocities against civilians. Christian militias sprung up in response, vowing revenge.
France has sent around 2,000 troops and the African Union has deployed 6,000, but the sectarian violence has continued to escalate.
As a result, the Security Council is expected to vote later Thursday on sending nearly 12,000 U.N. peacekeepers.
