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| France's Sarkozy arrives in Kabul | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| President Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived in Afghanistan to support French troops a day after one of the deadliest attacks on France's forces abroad. | |
| Ten French soldiers were killed and 21 injured in an ambush by Taleban fighters east of the capital, Kabul. | Ten French soldiers were killed and 21 injured in an ambush by Taleban fighters east of the capital, Kabul. |
| Mr Sarkozy said France was committed to the fight against terrorism, and the mission in Afghanistan would continue. | Mr Sarkozy said France was committed to the fight against terrorism, and the mission in Afghanistan would continue. |
| France plans to send in 700 troops by the end of August, bringing its presence in Afghanistan to 2,600. | France plans to send in 700 troops by the end of August, bringing its presence in Afghanistan to 2,600. |
| The French news agency AFP reported that Tuesday's deaths brought to 24 the number of French troops killed in Afghanistan since 2002. See a breakdown of the Isaf deployment | The French news agency AFP reported that Tuesday's deaths brought to 24 the number of French troops killed in Afghanistan since 2002. See a breakdown of the Isaf deployment |
| The BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby, in Paris, says news of the deaths will provoke anger in France, where two-thirds of people say they are opposed to French involvement in the conflict. | The BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby, in Paris, says news of the deaths will provoke anger in France, where two-thirds of people say they are opposed to French involvement in the conflict. |
| The loss of life is thought to be the heaviest suffered by the French military since 58 paratroopers were killed in Beirut in 1983. | The loss of life is thought to be the heaviest suffered by the French military since 58 paratroopers were killed in Beirut in 1983. |
| Tributes paid | Tributes paid |
| Mr Sarkozy is expected to meet some of the French soldiers injured in the ambush, the AFP news agency reports, as well as Afghan President Hamid Karzai. | |
| He arrived in Kabul early on Wednesday, accompanied by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Defence Minister Herve Morin, AFP said. | |
| Before leaving France, the president said he was travelling to Kabul to assure French troops "that France is at their sides". | |
| In a statement, he said France had "been struck severely" but that France was "resolved to pursue the fight against terrorism, for democracy and liberty". | In a statement, he said France had "been struck severely" but that France was "resolved to pursue the fight against terrorism, for democracy and liberty". |
| Mr Sarkozy said: "The cause is just, it is the honour of France and its armies to defend it." | |
| The French troops were caught up in fighting that started on Monday in the area of Sarobi, some 50km (30 miles) from Kabul. | The French troops were caught up in fighting that started on Monday in the area of Sarobi, some 50km (30 miles) from Kabul. |
| French defence officials said about 100 soldiers - from France, the US and Afghanistan - were on a reconnaissance mission when bad road conditions forced them to stop their vehicles. | French defence officials said about 100 soldiers - from France, the US and Afghanistan - were on a reconnaissance mission when bad road conditions forced them to stop their vehicles. |
| A group of French soldiers was sent ahead on foot to check the terrain, but they were ambushed by Taleban fighters and nine were killed. | A group of French soldiers was sent ahead on foot to check the terrain, but they were ambushed by Taleban fighters and nine were killed. |
| A 10th French soldier was killed when his vehicle overturned on the road. | A 10th French soldier was killed when his vehicle overturned on the road. |
| An Afghan intelligence officer told the BBC the troops were ambushed from several directions by heavily-armed Taleban and al-Qaeda forces. | An Afghan intelligence officer told the BBC the troops were ambushed from several directions by heavily-armed Taleban and al-Qaeda forces. |
| The fighting went on for 24 hours and it is understood that reinforcements had to be called in to airlift the troops to safety. | The fighting went on for 24 hours and it is understood that reinforcements had to be called in to airlift the troops to safety. |
| The deaths came amid warnings that insurgents are closing in on the capital city. | The deaths came amid warnings that insurgents are closing in on the capital city. |
| The French recently took over control of the Kabul regional command, which includes Sarobi. | The French recently took over control of the Kabul regional command, which includes Sarobi. |
| ISAF REGIONAL COMMANDS AND TROOP NUMBERS Countries contributing more than 1,000 troops | ISAF REGIONAL COMMANDS AND TROOP NUMBERS Countries contributing more than 1,000 troops |
| Australia - 1,100Canada - 2,500France - 3,000*Germany - 3,370Italy - 2350 Netherlands - 1,770Poland - 1,140UK - 8,530US - 14,000* Sources: Isaf, June 2008. *France and US government statistics. Figures are approximate | Australia - 1,100Canada - 2,500France - 3,000*Germany - 3,370Italy - 2350 Netherlands - 1,770Poland - 1,140UK - 8,530US - 14,000* Sources: Isaf, June 2008. *France and US government statistics. Figures are approximate |
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