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| Libya attack: Three French soldiers killed | Libya attack: Three French soldiers killed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| France's defence ministry says three of its soldiers have died in Libya, reportedly after their helicopter was shot down. | France's defence ministry says three of its soldiers have died in Libya, reportedly after their helicopter was shot down. |
| A short statement said the soldiers died "while on mission" in the north African country. | A short statement said the soldiers died "while on mission" in the north African country. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, ministry spokesman Stephane Le Foll confirmed French special forces were in Libya. | Earlier on Wednesday, ministry spokesman Stephane Le Foll confirmed French special forces were in Libya. |
| On Tuesday, Associated Press quoted Libyan officials as saying an Islamist militia shot down a French helicopter. | On Tuesday, Associated Press quoted Libyan officials as saying an Islamist militia shot down a French helicopter. |
| The attack on Sunday happened near the city of Benghazi, and left no survivors, AP reported. | The attack on Sunday happened near the city of Benghazi, and left no survivors, AP reported. |
| Africa Live: Latest updates | |
| Why is Libya so lawless? | |
| Mr Le Foll, in an interview with France Info radio on Wednesday, said French special forces were in Libya to "ensure that France is present everywhere in the fight against terrorism". | |
| While France had previously said its warplanes were carrying out reconnaissance flights over Libya, this is the first formal confirmation that France has special forces inside the country. | |
| Their presence was first reported by Le Monde newspaper in February (in French) but later denied by Libyan officials. | |
| Le Monde also said that French intelligence officials were also stationed inside Libya to help the fight against the so-called Islamic State (IS). | |
| Benghazi was the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against Col Muammar Gaddafi, but has since seen heavy violence between rival Islamist militias. |