MOSCOW, Dec 22 (Reuters) – Russia has sent an extra 300 military instructors to the Central African Republic at the request of the country’s leadership to help counter a surge in violence by rebel groups ahead of Sunday’s election, Russia’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Officials and a security source in Bangui said earlier on Monday that Rwanda and Russia had sent troops and supplies. The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that the opposition and armed groups were trying to destabilise the situation with the help of external forces. (Reporting by Polina Devitt; editing by Andrew Osborn)

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