This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-36843186
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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". | |
| Earlier on Wednesday, ministry spokesman Stephane Le Foll confirmed for the first time that 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 | Africa Live: Latest updates |
| Why is Libya so lawless? | Why is Libya so lawless? |
| Guide to Libya's militias | |
| 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". | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | Benghazi was the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against Col Muammar Gaddafi, but has since seen heavy violence between rival Islamist militias. |
| The BBC's Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield says Benghazi has suffered violence in the past two weeks as rival militias seek to take control of the city. | |
| Since the overthrow of Col Gaddafi, there have been two rival parliaments. While the UN helped broker a deal in December to form a unity government, talks on forming that administration have hit deadlock. | |
| The oil-rich country once had one of the highest standards of living in Africa with free healthcare and free education, but five years on from the uprising it is facing a financial crisis. | |
| At the same time, militias, who hold considerable power across Libya, are split along regional, ethnic and local lines, creating a combustible mix. | |
| This turmoil has allowed IS to gain a foothold in the country. | |
| But in a new report to be presented to the UN Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said IS was facing the "distinct possibility" of defeat in its last Libyan stronghold of Sirte. |