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France to vote on Afghan troops France to vote on Afghan troops
(about 2 hours later)
The French parliament is due to vote in a few hours to decide whether to keep French troops in Afghanistan. The French parliament is due to vote later to decide whether to keep French troops in Afghanistan.
Ten French soldiers were killed near Kabul in August in one of the deadliest attacks on foreign troops.Ten French soldiers were killed near Kabul in August in one of the deadliest attacks on foreign troops.
Reports say a stormy debate is expected but parliament is likely to support maintaining the French presence.Reports say a stormy debate is expected but parliament is likely to support maintaining the French presence.
Meanwhile, a report at the weekend in Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper said the French were "woefully unprepared" and "surprised by well-armed" Taleban. Meanwhile, Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper said a Nato report described the French as "woefully unprepared" and "surprised by well-armed" Taleban.
A total of 24 French troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002 and many French people say their country has no place in the Afghan conflict. France's defence minister said the report was not an official Nato document, but one officer's version of events written "in the heat of the moment".
In April this year President Nicolas Sarkozy announced he was sending another battalion of almost 800 soldiers to north-east Afghanistan, taking the number of French troops there to 2,600. The 18 August fighting - in which French troops were ambushed by the Taleban - has sparked a debate over President Nicolas Sarkozy's earlier decision to boost France's Afghan contingent.
The August deaths have sparked a debate over Mr Sarkozy's decision to boost the number of troops. Mr Sarkozy in April said he was sending another battalion of almost 800 soldiers to north-east Afghanistan, taking the number of French troops there to 2,600.
Although Mr Sarkozy insists that France is fighting a battle against terror in Afghanistan, many French people feel they have just been sucked into America's war, correspondents say.Although Mr Sarkozy insists that France is fighting a battle against terror in Afghanistan, many French people feel they have just been sucked into America's war, correspondents say.
'Better armed' A total of 24 French troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002 and some French people say their country has no place in the Afghan conflict.
Meanwhile, a report in Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper, quoting a "secret" Nato document, said the Taleban insurgents were better armed and prepared than the French troops. Officer's 'account'
Meanwhile, a report in Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper, quoting a "secret" Nato document, said the Taleban insurgents were better armed and prepared than the French troops during last month's battle.
"The French did not have enough bullets, radios and other equipment. The troops were forced to abandon a counter-attack when the weapons on their vehicles ran out of ammunition only 90 minutes into a battle that stretched over two days," the paper said, quoting from the report."The French did not have enough bullets, radios and other equipment. The troops were forced to abandon a counter-attack when the weapons on their vehicles ran out of ammunition only 90 minutes into a battle that stretched over two days," the paper said, quoting from the report.
"One French platoon had only a single radio and it was quickly disabled, leaving them unable to call for help," it added."One French platoon had only a single radio and it was quickly disabled, leaving them unable to call for help," it added.
Nato and French officials denied that such a report existed. Nato and French officials denied there was any such official report.
However, French Defence Minister Herve Morin later said that there was a Nato officer's "account" of the battle.
Mr Morin told RTL radio the description of the fighting was a "fragmented written account done in the heat of the moment the day after or 48 hours after the operation, using elements at the officer's disposal".
The French military denied the substance of the report.
"We were always able to respond to Taleban fire. Supplies were flown in by helicopter during the fighting that lasted nine hours," news agency AFP quoted French armed forces chief of staff spokesman Captain Christophe Prazuck as saying."We were always able to respond to Taleban fire. Supplies were flown in by helicopter during the fighting that lasted nine hours," news agency AFP quoted French armed forces chief of staff spokesman Captain Christophe Prazuck as saying.
"I am in a position to say that there is no such report, either from Nato or from [the Nato-led] Isaf," the agency quoted alliance spokesman James Appathurai in Brussels.
Earlier this month, French magazine Paris Match carried an interview with a Taleban leader "Commander Farouki" who claimed that they were tipped off about the French mission in their area.Earlier this month, French magazine Paris Match carried an interview with a Taleban leader "Commander Farouki" who claimed that they were tipped off about the French mission in their area.
The magazine also carried pictures of guns, walkie-talkies and even a wrist-watch - all spoils taken from the 10 killed soldiers.The magazine also carried pictures of guns, walkie-talkies and even a wrist-watch - all spoils taken from the 10 killed soldiers.
The images shocked and outraged many in France.The images shocked and outraged many in France.