French reinforcements arrived in the Central African Republic capital Bangui on Friday to bolster a force due to rise to 1,200 in coming days, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said. "The operation has effectively started," Le Drian told RFI radio of patrols by French troops, adding that one company had arrived in Bangui from a French base in nearby Gabon, and that a helicopter group was due to be in place later in the day. He added that the night had been calm after fighting on Thursday between mainly Muslim former rebels now in charge of the country and a mix of local Christian militia and fighters loyal to ousted president Francois Bozize. Speaking hours after securing U.N. backing for the mission on Thursday, French President Francois Hollande vowed that the French operation would be limited in time with the aim of handing over security to African forces when possible.

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PARIS (AP) — France's defense chief says military operations began overnight in Central African Republic, with patrols and a helicopter detachment arriving to quell violence in the streets of the capital.