described their group as one to protect civilians from attacks by the Seleka rebels, who were accused of looting and atrocities against civilians after their leader, Michel Djotodia, became president.

In recent weeks, however, the anti-Balaka fighters have taken part in mob killings and lynching of Muslim civilians in a wave of violence that has prompted tens of thousands to flee the country for neighbouring Chad.

Patrice Edouard Ngaissona, an anti-Balaka leader, defended his fighters' actions, saying they were "young Central Africans who had risen up and sacrificed their lives for the people when no regular army existed to protect the nation".

However, Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, gave warning on Tuesday that leaders of anti-Balaka and other armed groups would be held "personally accountablepeacekeepers and whether more troops "might be envisaged", according to Martin Nesirky, UN spokesman.

More than a million people have been displaced by the violence since Seleka installed Djotodia as interim president.

Djotodia, along with Nicolas Tiangaye, his prime minister, resigned on January 10 under international pressure after failing to halth the inter-religious violence.

Catherine Samba-Panza, mayor of Bangui, was elected as the interim president, but the deadly violence has continued.