Military actions of French troops in the Central African Republic (CAR) was "not finished" and would last longer than planned as "difficulties are considerable", French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Tuesday.

"Our action in the Central African Republic is not finished but our efforts began to bear fruit," Ayrault told the country's lawmakers.

"This intervention has prevented the total destruction of the Central African Republic... The challenges are considerable and France does not underestimae them," he added after Paris-led operation, started by the end 2013, failed to ease tension between Muslims and Christians militias.

Justifying the necessity to prolong French forces' stay in CAR, the France's prime minister noted a "real progress" of Sangaris operation which will cost France 35 million euros (48.13 million US dollars).

With the aim to ensure the security of the African restless country, Ayrault considered "an operation of peacekeeping the only way to meet the needs of the CAR," adding national soldiers "will not replace the international forces, whose responsibility is to ensure, over time, the security of the Central African Republic."

French Parliament was due to vote on extending Sangaris operation.

Pais has sent 2,000 soldiers to its former colony to curb sectarian conflict that left hundreds of victims and forced thousands of people to flee to neighbor countries.