| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa: West |
| Ivory Coast rebels kill two French soldiers |
| 2003-08-26 |
| Hat tip to Instapundit - and his note of a French Quagmire Rebels have shot and killed two French soldiers in Ivory Coast, it was reported today, marking France’s first combat deaths in its former colony since the start of a major peacekeeping operation there in January. A third French soldier was wounded in the exchange of gunfire late yesterday, according to Lt Col Jerome Salle, a French military spokesman. He said the French returned fire in the clash, and believed at least one rebel was killed. Rebel spokesman Antoine Beugre said his organisation knew nothing about the incident. "We’re looking into it," he said. "I can say no more" France has 4,000 troops in Ivory Coast, where it is leading efforts to restore peace after war broke out last September following a failed coup. The conflict was officially declared over in July, but tensions remain high. Yesterday’s clash occurred in a buffer zone in the centre of the country, where peacekeeping troops are deployed between rebel forces to the north and government forces to the south. ahhhhh the meat in the sandwich The French troops were taking part in newly launched patrols to secure Lake Kossou, south of the rebel stronghold of Bouake. They came ashore shortly before sunset in the village of Sakassou, and were talking with villagers when "well-armed rebels" in a pick-up truck pulled up. The rebels appeared to be drunk or on drugs, Lt Col Salle said, as is often case among combatants in West Africa. drunk or on drugs applies to a lot of combatants world-wide There was a heated exchange and the rebels opened fire as the French prepared to turn and leave the scene, according to the spokesman. One soldier was hit in the head, the other in the chest. The extent of the third soldier’s injuries were not known. Lt Col Salle called the attackers "uncontrolled elements" on the rebel side. The clash "does nothing to change the mission of the French army in Ivory Coast," he said. He also insisted the clash had nothing to do with the arrests in France over the weekend of at least 10 people alleged to have been plotting to destabilise the country. destabilize France? Were they Chirac and De Villepin? Why haven’t we heard about this? |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #8 Ashamed? It was brilliant! LOL, Paul! |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-8-26 10:38:13 PM |
| #7 The BBC, CNN, and LeMonde are reporting French causalties since the beginning of the deployment at 10,000 (non-combat, mostly heat, related) and 2 (combat related). Military analysts don't know how long the French military can hold out. They had already reached their pain threshold on D + 2 of the deployment when one, Pvt. Pierre Le Pu reported to sick call for a blister on his left foot. Chirac is calling for an immediate UN Security Council meeting to figure out who will save them this time. A joint US-UK response just released stated "Don't call us, we'll call you." Meanwhile French field commanders are already drawing up the terms of their surrender as per Chirac's orders. World opinion stands firmly behind the theory that it's all the fault of President Bush and the people of the United States. Leading this charge is the entire Democratic Party. (who else) The UN wanted to place sanctions on the US and punish them with "shock and awe" type military strikes. Unfortunately, they can't figure out how to request financial and military support from the US to do so. In other news, Coffee Ann Ann and the rest of the UN have moved up on the list of spine transplant recipients to numbers 108,573-109,885. Good luck we hope you all recieve one soon. |
| Posted by: Paul 2003-8-26 6:39:55 PM |
| #6 the french generally do a good job militarily in these little wars. Theyd be great to have at our side in Iraq, if they werent so friendly with precisely the people who want make Iraq a tyranny again. They do well militarily in Africa - no one can accuse them of imposing democracy there. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-26 4:24:19 PM |
| #5 There was a heated exchange and the rebels opened fire as the French prepared to turn and leave the scene They were TRYING to retreat, and f*cked that up too. They USED to rule Europe?? |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-8-26 4:01:41 PM |
| #4 This is why I am pleased that we lifted our marines back onto our amphibious ships. We now are in position to back up both the West Africans and our allies, the French. |
| Posted by: Steve D 2003-8-26 2:58:27 PM |
| #3 Now the French are screwing up in peacekeeping efforts. Everyone point and laugh! |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-8-26 2:41:36 PM |
| #2 It's another Indochina! |
| Posted by: Hermetic 2003-8-26 12:57:51 PM |
| #1 Has France surrendered yet? |
| Posted by: wills 2003-8-26 12:22:08 PM |