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French presence in Chad not aimed at rebels: minister
PARIS - French Defence Minister Herve Morin said Sunday that Frances military presence in Chad was not aimed at rebels fighting the government there, after the rebels threatened to shoot down French aircraft. The French military presence does not concern the military actions carried out by rebels against the Chadian armed forces, Morin told Radio J.Asked whether France would consider carrying out a preventive strike against rebel groups operating in eastern Chad, he replied: No, of course not. The control of the border remains an operation within the field of the Chadian army. Chadian rebels of the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development warned on Friday that they would shoot at any aircraft overflying their positions, as a French-led EU peacekeeping force prepared to deploy in the region. The rebels accuse French armed forces of supplying military intelligence about their positions to the regime of President Idriss Deby Itno. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the 3,500-strong peacekeeping force would nevertheless be deployed. France is expected to supply some 1,500 soldiers to the force, due to help secure refugee camps along Chads border with Darfur. Other contributors include Austria, who will send around 160 troops. France has more than 1,000 soldiers in Chad, a former French colony, as well as aircraft which carry out reconnaissance missions and transmit information to authorities in NDjamena. Posted by: Steve White 2007-12-03 |
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