UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Central African Republic’s foreign minister told the Security Council Thursday that a U.N. peacekeeping mission is urgently needed in his country to bolster French and African troops struggling to contain sectarian killing between Muslims and Christians. One top U.N. official said there essentially has been a “cleansing” of the Muslim population in western Central Africa Republic.

The Security Council met to consider a recommendation from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to establish a 12,000-member U.N. peacekeeping mission. French Ambassador Gerard Araud said he would circulate a resolution in the coming weeks and predicted consensus approval — but said there would be “tough” negotiations on ways to try to curb costs.