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Four French troops die in Afghanistan shooting Four French troops die in Afghanistan shooting
(about 1 hour later)
Four French troops have been killed in northern Afghanistan after a soldier from the Afghan National Army opened fire, local officials say.Four French troops have been killed in northern Afghanistan after a soldier from the Afghan National Army opened fire, local officials say.
Sixteen more members of the French armed forces were injured in the incident in the Tagab district of Kapisa province, north of Kabul. Sixteen more members of the French armed forces were injured in the incident in Kapisa province.
The Afghan soldier has been arrested by the French. An official told the BBC that an Afghan non-commissioned officer got into a "verbal clash" and opened fire.
President Nicolas Sarkozy said France was suspending its training programmes in Afghanistan following the attack.President Nicolas Sarkozy said France was suspending its training programmes in Afghanistan following the attack.
According to AFP, the president said that the question of an early French withdrawal from the country is being considered. He was sending his defence minister, Gerard Longuet, to the country "immediately," he said.
An Afghan official told the BBC: "This is a tragic incident, a sad and tragic day for us and for Nato." Mr Sarkozy said that the question of an early French withdrawal from Afghanistan would arise, if security conditions were not re-established.
It was "unacceptable" for French troops to be fired on by their allies, he said.
Thursday's incident, in the Tagab district, took place at 08:00 local time (03:30GMT), according to French media reports.
It brings to 82 the total number of French troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001.
Le Figaro said the attack could mark "a turning point" in French involvement in the country.
An Afghan official told the BBC: "This is a tragic incident, a sad and tragic day for us and for Nato." The Afghan soldier was arrested by the French, he said.
Nato confirmed in a statement that four of its troops had been killed, and that a suspect had been apprehended, but gave no further details.Nato confirmed in a statement that four of its troops had been killed, and that a suspect had been apprehended, but gave no further details.
Incidents of Nato soldiers being shot by their Afghan colleagues have increased in recent months.Incidents of Nato soldiers being shot by their Afghan colleagues have increased in recent months.
Three weeks ago two members of the French Foreign Legion were shot dead by an Afghan National Army soldier, also in Kapisa province.
Five French soldiers were killed by a suicide bomb while on patrol in the Tagab district of Kapisa in July 2011.
That was the heaviest loss of French life in Afghanistan since 10 soldiers were killed in a Taliban ambush in the Sarobi area, east of Kabul, in August 2008.
French troops have been part of the Nato-led operation in Afghanistan since 2001, and the country currently has 3,600 troops involved in its operations there.
President Sarkozy announced in July that 1,000 troops would be withdrawn from the country by the end of 2012, ahead of full Nato withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014.
In a separate development, a Nato helicopter has crashed in southern Afghanistan killing six troops. The nationalities of those killed has not been disclosed, but they are believed to be American.In a separate development, a Nato helicopter has crashed in southern Afghanistan killing six troops. The nationalities of those killed has not been disclosed, but they are believed to be American.
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for that incident, but a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said there was no enemy activity in the area at the time.The Taliban have claimed responsibility for that incident, but a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said there was no enemy activity in the area at the time.
Five French soldiers were killed by a suicide bomb while on patrol in the Tagab district of Kapisa in July 2011.
French troops have been part of the Nato-led operation in Afghanistan since 2001 and currently has 3,600 troops involved in its operations there.
President Sarkozy announced in July that 1,000 troops would be withdrawn from the country by the end of 2012.