摘要：聯合國秘書長潘基文周三稱，已要求聯合國中非共和國問題特別代表蓋伊辭職。聯合國在中非共和國的維和人員多次被指對平民實施性虐，包括對兒童。

UNITED NATIONS — In a rare move, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that he had told his top official in the Central African Republic to step down, after repeated accusations that peacekeepers there committed sexual abuse against civilians, including children.

The official, Babacar Gaye, a former Senegalese Army general who has served as the special representative of the secretary general in the Central African Republic, has resigned “at my request,” Mr. Ban said.

Dismissing a veteran and senior official is extremely unusual in the United Nations system. Mr. Ban’s gesture was clearly intended to send a message that he takes the issue of sexual exploitation seriously after recurring allegations involving several peacekeeping missions.

“I cannot put into words how anguished and angered and ashamed I feel,” Mr. Ban told reporters here, adding that he planned to summon all his mission chiefs and force commanders in a videoconference on Thursday.

Mr. Ban said he planned to press them to “investigate thoroughly and act decisively” when they are made aware of any allegations of sexual abuse by United Nations personnel, both military and civilian.

“Failure to do so will have clear consequences,” he said. “I want our leaders to know they are accountable.”

Mr. Ban also said he would ask the Security Council to convene on Thursday in an emergency session on the issue.

His actions came a day after Amnesty International said that a police officer deployed by the United Nations in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, had raped a 12-year-old girl during a house-to-house search operation this month.

It was the latest in a series of accusations of rape and sexual abuse against children by foreign peacekeepers in the Central African Republic.

Even before the United Nations mission was established there, French peacekeepers sent to protect civilians were accused of sexually abusing boys in the capital over a six-month period that began last December. The United Nations uncovered the allegations, but was accused of mishandling its own inquiry. France has said it is investigating, but has yet to announce any charges.

Mr. Ban has appointed an independent panel to review how the United Nations handled that episode. Its report is due later this year.