French peacekeepers accused of child abuse in Central African Republic
UN investigation leaked by whistleblower prompts new probe by Paris
French prosecutors and military authorities are investigating accusations that French soldiers in the Central African Republic sexually abused children they were sent to protect.
The French probes follow an initial UN investigation into the allegations a year ago - all of which were kept secret until a report in the Guardian newspaper on Wednesday pushed officials to acknowledge them.
A UN worker leaked information about the UN investigation to French authorities last year, the secretary general's office said in a statement. That worker, identified by the Swedish government as Swede Anders Kompass, has been suspended and is now under internal investigation.
The Central African Republic has seen unprecedented violence between Christians and Muslims since late 2013. At least 5,000 people have been killed, and about one million are displaced internally or have fled the country. France sent troops in late 2013 and the UN set up a 12,000-strong peacekeeping force in September last year.
In spring 2014, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the country's capital, Bangui, carried out a probe prompted by "serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of children by French military personnel," the UN secretary general's office said.