After 4 French troops killed, French Afghanistan withdrawal next month

[Shah-i-Kot]

http://www.debka.com/newsupdatepopup/1288/

After 4 French troops killed, French Afghanistan withdrawal next month
DEBKAfile June 9, 2012, 5:07 PM (GMT+02:00) President Francois Hollande announced the French troop withdrawal would begin next month after four members of the French NATO unit were killed and five were injured in the northeast province of Kapisa early Saturday when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives near their convoy. Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Three are in serious condition. The French defense minister set out immediately for Afghanistan. Hollande had earlier set the withdrawal for the end of 2012, two years before the scheduled NATO exit date.

[Shah-i-Kot]

It appears France will be fully withdrawn by the end of 2012 as the Debkafile confirms, and is starting withdrawal next month.

[Shah-i-Kot]

http://www.euronews.com/2012/06/09/h...french-troops/


Hollande confirms early withdrawal after Taliban kill French troops

09/06 17:43 CET



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Four French soldiers and an Afghan interpreter have been killed by a suicide bomber in eastern Afghanistan.
The Taliban have said they were behind the attack, which comes as they step up a spring offensive.
Another five soldiers were injured, three seriously.
Afghan officials say the bomber approached their patrol dressed in a burka.
The French president François Hollande said a national tribute would be paid to the troops, while confirming the early withdrawal of French forces from the country.
“This operation will begin in July, it will be put into place and completed by the end of 2012. Until then, everything should be done to make sure that our troops fulfil their obligations, but with the highest level of security and the utmost vigilance for the lives of our soldiers,” he said.
It is the second attack this year on French troops in the mountainous Kapisa province to bring major loss of life. In January another four soldiers were killed.
After his election last month President Hollande visited the volatile province which is mainly patrolled by a French force under NATO command.
He said the job of fighting terrorism was nearly done and France would focus on cooperating on helping civilians.
The latest attack brings to 87 the total number of French soldiers killed in the Afghan conflict, the fourth highest among coalition forces.

[IamDZJ]

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