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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| French defence to counter terror | French defence to counter terror |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The main threat facing France is that of terrorism and the country's defence system needs to reflect that, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said. | The main threat facing France is that of terrorism and the country's defence system needs to reflect that, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said. |
| He is presenting a major overhaul of the military which includes cutting more than 50,000 defence jobs and boosting intelligence resources. | |
| He wants to create a smaller, more mobile army that will be better equipped to respond to such threats. | He wants to create a smaller, more mobile army that will be better equipped to respond to such threats. |
| He is outlining his new strategy to some 3,000 senior officers in Paris. | He is outlining his new strategy to some 3,000 senior officers in Paris. |
| "Today, the most immediate threat is that of a terrorist attack", he said. | |
| "The threat is there, it is real and we know that it could tomorrow take on a new form, even more serious, with nuclear, chemical and biological means." | |
| His speech follows the release of the details of France's first major defence review in 14 years, under which some 54,000 military and civilian defence jobs will be cut. | |
| France will trim its army, navy and air force from 271,000 troops to 224,000, with the army alone set for a 24% cut. | |
| However, he said the intelligence budget for new satellites, drones and other surveillance equipment would double. |