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| Sarkozy makes Kabul crisis visit | |
| (about 2 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. | 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. |
| Tuesday's deaths brought to 24 the number of French troops killed in Afghanistan since 2002, the AFP news agency reports. See a breakdown of the Isaf deployment | |
| 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 |
| The arrival of Mr Sarkozy, who was accompanied by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Defence Minister Herve Morin, was marked by a flurry of helicopters across Kabul on Wednesday. | |
| The cause is just, it is the honour of France and its armies to defend it Nicolas SarkozyFrench president | |
| He visited the mortuary at the French camp in the capital, spoke to injured soldiers who were involved in the battle, and is due to hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. | |
| His message is one of support not just to the troops, but also to the Nato alliance and Mr Karzai, says the BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul. | |
| The French deployment is not popular at home and the decision was made in April to send extra fighting troops to an even more dangerous part of the country, our correspondent adds. | |
| In a statement, Mr Sarkozy 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." | Mr Sarkozy said: "The cause is just, it is the honour of France and its armies to defend it." |
| Ambush | |
| 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 tenth 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. | |
| 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 Kabul. | |
| 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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