Europe 'Can't Leave France on Its Own' in C.Africa

Europe cannot leave France alone in its bid to restore order in the strife-torn Central African Republic, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in an interview to be published Sunday.

"Europe cannot leave France on its own there," he told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

It is in Europe's interests to restore order in the country, because "when instability, displacement and terrorism threaten Africa, the consequences will arrive in Europe," he added.

Steinmeier's remarks come as EU foreign ministers are to meet in Brussels Monday to discuss deploying troops to back up French and African soldiers in the landlocked country ripped apart by bloody sectarian clashes.

The German foreign minister also said that the 28-member bloc should consider giving more support to France's deployment in Mali.

France launched a military offensive in its former colony in January 2013 to repel an Islamist advance following instability sparked by a coup.

The operation has been widely hailed as a success for stopping al-Qaida-linked militants and Tuareg rebels from descending south of the sprawling country and advancing on the capital Bamako.

"We should consider the possibility of greater support, such as in Mali," said Steinmeier.

Steinmeier is to travel to Paris on Tuesday, where he will meet his French counterpart Laurent Fabius.