Two French soldiers killed in C African Republic

PARIS - Two French soldiers have been killed in Central African Republic, where France has boosted its troop numbers to help restore stability, French media reported on Tuesday.

Citing French army sources, BFM TV reported that they were killed on Monday in a clash in Bangui.

French defence ministry officials declined to comment. A spokesman for the joint chiefs of staff was not immediately available for comment.

The reports came before French President Francois Hollande was due to make a brief visit to Central African Republic on the way back to France from Tuesday's commemoration service for late South African leader Nelson Mandela.

Soldiers in a 1,600-strong French force battled gunmen in Bangui on Monday in an operation to disarm rival Muslim and Christian fighters responsible for killing hundreds since last week.