France and the African Union (AU) are finally going to get some help restoring order to the strife-torn Central African Republic (CAR):  France emerged from a meeting of European Union foreign ministers saying that some EU members will contribute troops to the effort.

“We will soon have troops on the ground from our European colleagues,” said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

Diplomats say the troops would likely come from Belgium and Poland, although Polish Foreign Minister Donald Tusk stopped short of announcing ground troops.

“In CAR's case we will be ready for limited logistical support in terms of aviation,” he said, “A transport aircraft and a group of soldiers, who would take care of it, is something that is within our possibilities.”

France has deployed 1,600 troops to its former colony, alongside the 6,000 troops the AU has in the CAR.  And there’s been some progress in the capital Bangui with children playing soccer in the streets today, and taxis at work less than half an hour before curfew last night.  But 210,000 people are still displaced because of the fighting.

And several hundred kilometers north of Bangui, Muslim militias have continued to attack civilians in the town of Bossangoa, where 40,000 are seeking protection on the grounds of a church.

‘We continue to hear of attacks against Christians by former Seleka, with looting, killing and houses being set on fire,” said a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency.