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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| Afghan ambush kills French troops | Afghan ambush kills French troops |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ten French soldiers have been killed in an ambush by Taleban fighters east of the Afghan capital, Kabul, the French president's office has confirmed. | Ten French soldiers have been killed in an ambush by Taleban fighters east of the Afghan capital, Kabul, the French president's office has confirmed. |
| A further 21 French soldiers were wounded in one of the heaviest casualty tolls suffered by international peacekeepers in Afghanistan. | A further 21 French soldiers were wounded in one of the heaviest casualty tolls suffered by international peacekeepers in Afghanistan. |
| The soldiers were part of the Nato-led peacekeeping International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). | The soldiers were part of the Nato-led peacekeeping International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). |
| President Nicolas Sarkozy will go to Afghanistan shortly, his office says. | President Nicolas Sarkozy will go to Afghanistan shortly, his office says. |
| The loss of life was the heaviest suffered by the French military since 58 paratroopers were killed in Beirut in 1983, the French news agency AFP reports. | The loss of life was the heaviest suffered by the French military since 58 paratroopers were killed in Beirut in 1983, the French news agency AFP reports. |
| News of the deaths is bound to provoke anger back home where around two-thirds of French people say they are opposed to any French involvement in the conflict, the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby reports from Paris. | News of the deaths is bound to provoke anger back home where around two-thirds of French people say they are opposed to any French involvement in the conflict, the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby reports from Paris. |
| But President Sarkozy insisted France remained committed to the fight against terrorism and that the mission in Afghanistan would continue. | But President Sarkozy insisted France remained committed to the fight against terrorism and that the mission in Afghanistan would continue. |
| 'Extremely violent' | 'Extremely violent' |
| The French troops had been caught up in fighting that started on Monday in the area of Sarobi some 50 km (30 miles) east of Kabul. | |
| They were killed "during a joint reconnaissance mission with the Afghan National Army", Mr Sarkozy said in a statement. | They were killed "during a joint reconnaissance mission with the Afghan National Army", Mr Sarkozy said in a statement. |
| "Serious measures, notably in the air, were taken to support and extricate our men caught in an extremely violent ambush." | "Serious measures, notably in the air, were taken to support and extricate our men caught in an extremely violent ambush." |
| The French leader said his visit to Afghanistan would be to show his support for French troops there. | The French leader said his visit to Afghanistan would be to show his support for French troops there. |
| France has 3,000 troops deployed in Afghanistan. Tuesday's deaths bring to 24 the number killed since 2002, AFP says. | France has 3,000 troops deployed in Afghanistan. Tuesday's deaths bring to 24 the number killed since 2002, AFP says. |
| "The French were ambushed in a village after they left the Ozbin valley," an Afghan intelligence officer told the BBC.See a breakdown of the Isaf deployment | "The French were ambushed in a village after they left the Ozbin valley," an Afghan intelligence officer told the BBC.See a breakdown of the Isaf deployment |
| "They were ambushed from several directions. The Taleban and al-Qaeda forces used heavy machine guns and other weapons. They fired from mountains and gardens." | "They were ambushed from several directions. The Taleban and al-Qaeda forces used heavy machine guns and other weapons. They fired from mountains and gardens." |
| The fighting went on for 24 hours. | The fighting went on for 24 hours. |
| The French recently took over control of the Kabul regional command which includes Sarobi. | |
| Wave of attacks | Wave of attacks |
| The ambush came amid signs of deteriorating security in Afghanistan. | The ambush came amid signs of deteriorating security in Afghanistan. |
| DEADLY ATTACKS 19 August 2008: 10 French troops killed and 21 wounded in ambush east of Kabul13 July 2008: Nine US soldiers killed and 15 wounded in attack on base in Kunar28 June 2005: Rocket-propelled grenade downs US helicopter in Kunar, killing all 16 servicemen aboard | |
| Despite increased security in Kabul, two rockets were fired on the city overnight, landing close to the Isaf headquarters. | Despite increased security in Kabul, two rockets were fired on the city overnight, landing close to the Isaf headquarters. |
| In the southern province of Kandahar a Nato patrol was struck by a roadside bomb. | In the southern province of Kandahar a Nato patrol was struck by a roadside bomb. |
| And in the south-eastern province of Khost six suicide bombers were killed while attacking a Nato military base, Camp Salerno, Nato says. | And in the south-eastern province of Khost six suicide bombers were killed while attacking a Nato military base, Camp Salerno, Nato says. |
| Isaf confirmed that Camp Salerno had been attacked by rockets or mortars, and that a number of suicide bombers had tried to storm the base. | Isaf confirmed that Camp Salerno had been attacked by rockets or mortars, and that a number of suicide bombers had tried to storm the base. |
| On Monday, nine Afghan civilians were killed when a suicide bomber rammed a car into the gate of the same base. | On Monday, nine Afghan civilians were killed when a suicide bomber rammed a car into the gate of the same base. |
| Are you in the area? Did you witness the fighting? Send us your eyewitness accounts using the form below. | Are you in the area? Did you witness the fighting? Send us your eyewitness accounts using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |