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Paras arrive in Ivory Coast...
The first contingent of reinforcements for the French military mission in Ivory Coast has arrived, according to military officials, despite a threat by the country's main rebel group to fight against them. The French news agency, AFP, said 150 paratroopers had landed at the international airport in Abidjan. France has broadened the mandate of its soldiers in Ivory Coast, authorising them to enforce - rather than just monitor - an October ceasefire between government forces and the rebels who now control the north of the country. The 1,200-strong French deployment is to be boosted by 500 troops in all. Whoa! That's a difference! That's gonna bunch the bad guys' BVDs... On Friday, a spokesman for the Patriotic Movement of Ivory Coast (MPCI) Guillaume Soro accused the troops of deviating from their peacekeeping mission, and demanded their withdrawal. Toldja so... Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2002-12-15 |
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