From MSN Money

France said the European Union was shirking its responsibilities for international security after an EU plan to send up to 1,000 troops to Central African Republic next week seemed to be about to collapse.

The EU had proposed sending 800 to 1,000 soldiers to the former French colony to join 6,000 African and 2,000 French troops, who have struggled to stop fighting that started a year ago when mostly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian state.

However, EU sources said on Thursday the plan was in jeopardy because European governments had not provided the soldiers and equipment they promised.

In a blunt joint statement from France’s foreign and defense ministers, Paris “strongly” urged its partners to do more.

“The EU must not shirk its responsibilities with regard to international security,” Laurent Fabius and Jean-Yves Le Drian, the respective ministers, said. “It has to be said … despite contributions announced by some European states, the total falls short.”

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