ADDIS ABABA: The UN secretary-general expresses horror over allegations UN peacekeepers and foreign troops sexually abused children in violence-plagued Central African Republic.

In remarks before African leaders, Ban Ki-moon said the UN is ashamed and horrified over the damage by peacekeepers who exploited vulnerable people. Ban was addressing an African Union summit Saturday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The UN human rights office said Friday that it had turned up six more cases of alleged sexual abuse against children by European troops in Central African Republic. The UN also announced new allegations against UN peacekeepers from Bangladesh, Congo, Niger and Senegal.

The UN said there are likely to be 69 confirmed allegations of sexual abuse in its peacekeeping missions in 2015, including 22 in Central African Republic.