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France to vote on troops in Afghanistan
French lawmakers are to vote on whether to keep troops in Afghanistan, as oppositions to the French presence in the region increase. The vote comes after 10 French soldiers were killed and 21 others wounded last month near the Afghan capital Kabul in France's worst military loss since a suicide bomber killed 58 paratroopers in Lebanon 25 years ago. The August deaths brought the number of French troops killed in Afghanistan to 24. Reports say both houses of parliament, dominated by President Nicolas Sarkozy's party, are likely to support maintaining the French presence. But a stormy debate was in store after a report at the weekend in Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper said the Taliban fighters who ambushed the French soldiers on August 18 were better armed than their enemy. "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. France currently has around 1,500 troops in Afghanistan as part of a 2,200-strong contingent serving in the region with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission and the US-led operation. Although Sarkozy insists that France is fighting a battle against terror in Afghanistan, a poll published after last month's ambush showed 55 percent of the French feel they have just been sucked into America's war.
French lawmakers voted Monday to extend their country's mission in Afghanistan with additional troops and materiel, despite popular opposition and French military casualties in the region. Lisa Bryant has more for VOA from Paris. French deputies voted 343 to 210 in favor of maintaining the country's 2,600 soldiers in Afghanistan, overcoming opposition by the opposition Socialist party. The senate, which also is dominated by the ruling UMP party, approved the measure later in the day. And Monday, Prime Minister Francois Fillon announced plans to reinforce France's presence in the volatile country. Fillon said the government would deploy not only 100 more troops, but helicopters, drones and other equipment. France currently has 3,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of the 70,000-strong international force there. Posted by: Fred 2008-09-23 |
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