2 French soldiers killed in Central African Republic unrest Two French soldiers die after their patrol is attacked in Bangui, Defense Ministry says France has 1,600 troops operating in the Central African Republic The French forces are supporting an African Union-led peacekeeping force Violence has escalated in the Central African Republic since a coup in March Central African Republic (CNN) -- Two French soldiers sent to the Central African Republic as part of an international peacekeeping mission have been killed, the French presidency said Tuesday. The two soldiers, both in their early 20s and from a paratroop regiment, were killed in combat in the capital, Bangui, on Monday night, a statement from the Elysee Palace said. "They lost their lives to save others," it said. French President Francois Hollande learned of the soldiers' deaths "with great sadness," the statement said. He also "reiterates his full confidence in the French forces deployed alongside African forces to restore security in the Central African Republic, protect civilian populations and ensure access to humanitarian aid." Hollande will visit the Central African Republic after attending the official memorial service for the late South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, the Elysee Palace said. France has deployed 1,600 personnel in the Central African Republic to support African Union troops, after a vote last week in the U.N. Security Council authorizing military intervention. More than 400,000 people -- nearly 10% of the population -- have been internally displaced by the fighting, according to the United Nations. French forces began their operation in the country, east of Cameroon and north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Friday, a day after the U.N. resolution authorizing their deployment was approved. A French Defense Ministry statement said the two men killed late Monday, named as Antoine Quinio and Nicolas Vokaer, died of their injuries after their patrol was attacked at short range. "France is determined to act to restore basic security in the Central African Republic, in order to halt the spiral of abuses and sectarian drift, allow the return of humanitarian workers and basic state structures," Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said. Muslim militia: We are true government of CAR Calling for 'calm and peace' The Pentagon said Monday that American military aircraft would help out by flying African and European peacekeepers to the Central African Republic from Burundi. In a statement, President Barack Obama appealed for the country's citizens to reject violence and urged the transitional government to join "respected leaders" in Muslim and Christian communities in calling for "calm and peace." Individuals who are engaging in violence must be held accountable in accordance with the law. Meanwhile, as forces from other African countries and France work to restore security, the United States will support their efforts to protect civilians," Obama said. As well as carrying out patrols in Bangui, French forces have been deployed in the town of Bossangoa, a six-hour drive north of the capital, where more than 40,000 of those displaced by fighting have sought refuge in camps. The French intend to make Bossangoa safe and to push out to the even more insecure bush past the city limits, where 100,000 people have been hiding for the past six months in fear for their lives. An official from FOMAC, the multinational force for Central Africa, said the Seleka militia would no longer be allowed to run the country as local administrators, and instead police will begin to do that. Also, members of the militia group will be restricted to their camps, and when they venture out, they will be forced to leave their weapons behind. This rule also applies to the Christian anti-Balaka militia, which includes vigilante groups. But the commander of the Seleka militia, Col. Saleh Zabadi, told a CNN team in Bossangoa that his force has no intention of going anywhere. Maybe if we are dead," he said defiantly. CNN's Nima Elbagir reported from the Central African Republic and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London. Lillian Leposo and Sandrine Amiel contributed to this report.