UN Tackles Collapsing Central African Republic

UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution to help end near-anarchy in the violence-wracked Central African Republic.

The resolution adopted Thursday strongly backs a new African Union peacekeeping force in the country, and demands swift implementation of a political transition leading to free and fair elections in less than 18 months.

It also expresses the council’s readiness to consider sanctions against those who fuel the violence.

The Central African Republic has been in turmoil since a coalition of rebel groups joined forces to overthrow the president in March and put their leader in charge.