EU to send 500 troops to Central African Republic, fewer than expected

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union decided on Monday to send troops to help stabilise Central African Republic, deploying its first major army operation in six years, but the force will be smaller than originally expected at around 500-strong.

The EU has been spurred into action by communal bloodshed in Central African Republic that led a senior U.N. official to warn last week of a risk of genocide there without a more decisive international response.