Looters ran amok in Central African Republic capital Bangui in the hours leading up to the inauguration of the country's new interim president.

Bangui Mayor Catherine Samba-Panza was sworn in to head the transitional government tasked with organising elections later this year.

Thieves pillaged Muslim shops and homes on Wednesday and while Rwandan peacekeepers had to be called in to rescue a group of 30 Muslims in the capital.

Ms Samba-Panza warned there were not enough international troops to restore peace.

She applauded military involvement from her country's former colonial master but said she hoped other European countries would "follow France's example."

Ms Samba-Panza said her priorities would be "a return to security" and putting people back to work.

Meanwhile, UN envoys on genocide prevention, human rights, children and sexual violence in conflict called on the security council to order tougher action.

UN adviser on the prevention of genocide Adama Dieng said the size of the African force meant it couldn't cope with the chaos.

Only 4,000 troops of a promised 6,000 have been deployed in the country, mainly in Bangui.

"There is an urgent need for the full deployment of (African Union) peacekeepers as soon as possible," Mr Dieng told the UN security council in New York.

He said there was a "high risk both of crimes against humanity and of genocide."

And UN envoy on children in conflict Leila Zerrougui said there had been "unprecedented levels of brutality" against children and others.