Hollande holds meeting on situation in Central African republic

French President Francois Hollande has summoned key ministers and officials for a restricted Defence Council Meeting to discuss the catastrophic situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), where thousands of Muslims are being killed by rival militia groups and tens of thousands are being chased out of the country, diplomatic sources confirmed Friday. The Defence Council normally includes the Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister, Defence Minister, Interior Minister and other concerned members of government. Senior intelligence and military figures also attend such meetings that are called to come up with a solution to a particular crisis. France has 1,600 troops in CAR, seeking to protect the capital, Bangui, and the airport but does not have enough manpower to kill what humanitarian groups are calling "ethnic cleansing" of the Muslim population. The UN is urging France to deploy more troops to assist the 6,000-man MISCA force of African troops, which is not as well trained as the French army. European Union troops numbering about 600 are expected to arrive in CAR over the coming weeks and months but probably too late to help beleaguered Muslims who are victims of "targeted and relentless" attack on religious grounds, according to Human Rights Watch. Hollande is meeting later Friday with the President of Chad, Idriss Deby Itno to discuss the crisis as Chad has significant forces deployed in CAR and has taken in some refugees.