Al Ahram] French President Francois Hollande...the Socialist president of La Belle France, an economic bad joke for la Belle France but seemingly a foreign policy realist...
said on Thursday that security was gradually returning to Central African Republic (CAR), where La Belle France has deployed 1,600 troops to stem sectarian violence.
"The night (in the capital Bangui) was calm... But we must be very vigilant, cautious and carry out the disarmament (of militias) to the end," said Hollande, who earlier this week paid a swift visit to the former French colony.
On Tuesday, Hollande said that La Belle France's intervention was dangerous but vital to avoid a bloodbath. Two elite French soldiers have been killed in the intervention.
Bangui, where hundreds were slaughtered with clubs and machetes last week, appeared generally calm Wednesday, with residents suggesting that fear was subsiding following the weekend deployment of the French soldiers.