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| France sets out Afghan deployment | France sets out Afghan deployment |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| France could send "a few hundred" extra troops to Afghanistan, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has told MPs. | France could send "a few hundred" extra troops to Afghanistan, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has told MPs. |
| In a stormy National Assembly debate, he rejected opposition Socialist calls for a parliamentary vote on the plan. | In a stormy National Assembly debate, he rejected opposition Socialist calls for a parliamentary vote on the plan. |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to announce the details of a new deployment to Afghanistan at a Nato summit this week in Bucharest, Romania. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to announce the details of a new deployment to Afghanistan at a Nato summit this week in Bucharest, Romania. |
| France currently has more than 1,400 troops in Afghanistan, part of the 47,000-strong Nato-led force, Isaf. | France currently has more than 1,400 troops in Afghanistan, part of the 47,000-strong Nato-led force, Isaf. |
| Map of main troop deployments | Map of main troop deployments |
| He told the National Assembly: "Our armed forces in Afghanistan may invest more in the command structures, particularly in Kabul, in training the Afghan army and in the units in the Afghan provinces. | He told the National Assembly: "Our armed forces in Afghanistan may invest more in the command structures, particularly in Kabul, in training the Afghan army and in the units in the Afghan provinces. |
| "The numbers could be something like a few hundred extra soldiers." | "The numbers could be something like a few hundred extra soldiers." |
| 'New Vietnam' | 'New Vietnam' |
| An opinion poll on Monday said 68% of French people disapproved of any strengthening of the French troop presence in Afghanistan. Just 15% approved. | An opinion poll on Monday said 68% of French people disapproved of any strengthening of the French troop presence in Afghanistan. Just 15% approved. |
| Mr Fillon rejected opposition calls for a vote, saying one had not been held when a previous government decided in 2001 to take part in Nato's Afghanistan mission. | Mr Fillon rejected opposition calls for a vote, saying one had not been held when a previous government decided in 2001 to take part in Nato's Afghanistan mission. |
| But the Socialists warned France risked becoming mired in a "new Vietnam". | But the Socialists warned France risked becoming mired in a "new Vietnam". |
| Jean-Marc Ayrault, the opposition's leader in the National Assembly, suggested Mr Sarkozy's "Atlantic obsession" of closer ties with the US was behind the plan. | Jean-Marc Ayrault, the opposition's leader in the National Assembly, suggested Mr Sarkozy's "Atlantic obsession" of closer ties with the US was behind the plan. |
| Mr Fillon reiterated French conditions to any new troop deployment, saying there must be faster reconstruction. | Mr Fillon reiterated French conditions to any new troop deployment, saying there must be faster reconstruction. |
| He also said by the summer of 2009 the Afghan army had to take responsibility for security around Kabul, where the bulk of French troops are based. | He also said by the summer of 2009 the Afghan army had to take responsibility for security around Kabul, where the bulk of French troops are based. |
| And the French prime minister called on other Nato allies to boost their forces. | And the French prime minister called on other Nato allies to boost their forces. |
| Britain and the US have frequently called on other Nato members to send more soldiers to fight the Taleban. | Britain and the US have frequently called on other Nato members to send more soldiers to fight the Taleban. |
| Map of main troop deployments | Map of main troop deployments |
| ISAF REGIONAL COMMANDS AND RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS Countries contributing more than 1,000 troops (1 April 2008): Australia - 1,100Canada 2,500France 1,430Germany - 3,490Italy - 2,360 Netherlands - 1,730Poland - 1,020UK - 7,750US - 19,000 Figures approximateSource: ISAF | ISAF REGIONAL COMMANDS AND RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS Countries contributing more than 1,000 troops (1 April 2008): Australia - 1,100Canada 2,500France 1,430Germany - 3,490Italy - 2,360 Netherlands - 1,730Poland - 1,020UK - 7,750US - 19,000 Figures approximateSource: ISAF |
| Return | Return |
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| Are you in Afghanistan? What is your view on the deployment? Send us your comments | Are you in Afghanistan? What is your view on the deployment? Send us your comments |