Escalating violence in the Central African Republic is posing a threat to children, with at least two beheaded and thousands recruited as soldiers, the United Nations said

The United Nations says that it verified the deaths of 16 children since violence broke out in the capital of Bangui on December 5, 2013. Dozens of others have been injured. "We are witnessing unprecedented levels of violence against children. More and more children are being recruited into armed groups, and they are also being directly targeted in atrocious revenge attacks," said Souleymane Diabate, UNICEF representative in the nation.