DHAKA: The UN Security Council has unanimously approved the creation of a UN peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic to try to stop violence between Christians and Muslims that has threatened to spiral into genocide.

The force, authorised by the 15-member council on Thursday, will be known as MINUSCA and will be made up of up to 10,000 troops, 1,800 police and 20 corrections officers.

The UN operation will assume authority on September 15 from the African Union`s 5,600-strong MISCA force, which was deployed in December.

The council wants the UN force to include "as many MISCA military and police personnel as possible", reported the Associated Press news agency.

The resolution also authorises French troops in the landlocked former French colony to use "all necessary means" to support UN peacekeepers.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from London, Amnesty Internationa`s Christian Mukosa said " the big issue is how to fit the gap between now and September".

"This is why we think the UN must ensure that the African Union forces and the French forces are well equipped and have enough logistical support to protect civilians." he added,

Central African Republic has been in chaos since a March 2013 coup, when mostly Muslim rebels seized power and launched a brutal regime. Christian militiamen attacked rebel strongholds in early December.

As the rebel government crumbled in January, the Christian militiamen stepped up the violence, forcing tens of thousands of Muslims to flee.

France took the lead in mobilising international support to address the crisis but its ambassador, Gerard Araud, said the security situation remained volatile.

"African Union troops supported by the French troops are doing tremendous work to protect the civilian population but it`s not yet enough,`` Araud said after the vote. "The resolution we have just adopted is a key turning point."

Toussaint Kongo-Doudou, Central African Republic`s foreign minister, who urged the council last month to send UN peacekeepers, thanked members for adopting the resolution.

He said it "lays the foundation for a solution and a way out of the crisis".

Source: Al-Jazeera

BDST: 0903 HRS, APR 11, 2014