(VOVworld) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday called on the United Nations to boost security forces in the Central African Republic, a day after France ended its peacekeeping mission in that strife-torn country.

A member of the peacekeeping force from the UN in the Central African Republic stands guard as Muslims leave the Grand Mosque in the PK5 neighborhood of Bangui (Photo: voaafrique.com)

A report published by HRW revealed that 10 people were killed in clashes between armed groups in the capital Bangui on Sunday, just hours after the shutdown of the French operation. HRW said the UN should deploy more forces to the volatile central region, expand their patrols, and use appropriate force to protect civilians under imminent threat.