Moussa Faki Mahamat's call for an inclusive dialogue comes a day after dozens of school children were reunited with theirparents - two days after being kidnapped.

They were reportedly held by Anglophone separatists.

The principal and one of her teachers are still in captivity.

Mr Mahamat called on the perpetrators to be identified and brought to justice.

A peace conference, organised by religious leaders, is due to take place later this month however it is not clear whether the Cameroonian government or the separatist rebels will attend.

Activists claim the country's French-speaking majority is marginalising the English-speaking minority.