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France's ex-soldiers in Ivory Coast admit Mahe killing | France's ex-soldiers in Ivory Coast admit Mahe killing |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Four ex-French peacekeepers have admitted their role in the killing of a suspected gang leader in Ivory Coast in 2005, but say they acted under orders. | Four ex-French peacekeepers have admitted their role in the killing of a suspected gang leader in Ivory Coast in 2005, but say they acted under orders. |
Prosecutors have asked a Paris court to jail Col Eric Burgaud and his three co-defendants for suffocating Firmin Mahe to death with a plastic bag. | Prosecutors have asked a Paris court to jail Col Eric Burgaud and his three co-defendants for suffocating Firmin Mahe to death with a plastic bag. |
France sent a 4,000-strong force to its former colony after it descended into a now-ended civil war in 2002. | France sent a 4,000-strong force to its former colony after it descended into a now-ended civil war in 2002. |
Force commander Gen Henri Poncet was sacked following Mr Mahe's death. | Force commander Gen Henri Poncet was sacked following Mr Mahe's death. |
He is not on trial, and denies ordering Col Burgaud to kill Mr Mahe. | He is not on trial, and denies ordering Col Burgaud to kill Mr Mahe. |
Mr Mahe, whom the French accused of being a murderer and a rapist, was arrested near the western town of Bangolo in May 2005. | Mr Mahe, whom the French accused of being a murderer and a rapist, was arrested near the western town of Bangolo in May 2005. |
He was then suffocated with a plastic bag in the back of a military vehicle. | He was then suffocated with a plastic bag in the back of a military vehicle. |
His family has always insisted that he was innocent, and has been campaigning for the former peacekeepers to stand trial for his murder. | His family has always insisted that he was innocent, and has been campaigning for the former peacekeepers to stand trial for his murder. |
'Drive slowly' | 'Drive slowly' |
On Thursday, prosecutors called for prison terms of between two and five years for the accused. | On Thursday, prosecutors called for prison terms of between two and five years for the accused. |
Chief prosecutor Annie Grenier said the ex-soldiers had been involved in a "cold-blooded murder" in a country where they were supposed to help protect civilians. | Chief prosecutor Annie Grenier said the ex-soldiers had been involved in a "cold-blooded murder" in a country where they were supposed to help protect civilians. |
She said even if they acted on orders, it was their "duty to refuse to carry out an illegal order". | She said even if they acted on orders, it was their "duty to refuse to carry out an illegal order". |
Col Burgaud said Gen Poncet ordering the killing with the phrase: "Drive slowly, you understand me?" | Col Burgaud said Gen Poncet ordering the killing with the phrase: "Drive slowly, you understand me?" |
He understood this to mean that it would be "best if Mahe arrived dead" and he relayed the instruction to his co-accused, Col Burgaud said. | He understood this to mean that it would be "best if Mahe arrived dead" and he relayed the instruction to his co-accused, Col Burgaud said. |
They include Sgt-Maj Guy Raugel, who suffocated Mr Mahe with the help of Corporal Johannes Schnier. | They include Sgt-Maj Guy Raugel, who suffocated Mr Mahe with the help of Corporal Johannes Schnier. |
The vehicle's driver, Corporal Lianrifou Ben Youssouf, has also been charged with murder. | The vehicle's driver, Corporal Lianrifou Ben Youssouf, has also been charged with murder. |
French peacekeepers were first deployed to Ivory Coast when it split between a rebel-held north and a government-held south in 2002. | French peacekeepers were first deployed to Ivory Coast when it split between a rebel-held north and a government-held south in 2002. |
The conflict ended last year when French and United Nations forces helped arrest then-President Laurent Gbagbo after he refused to accept defeat in elections. | |
This allowed the winner of the elections, Alassane Ouattara, to take power. | This allowed the winner of the elections, Alassane Ouattara, to take power. |
French troops are now playing a key role in training the new Ivorian army. | French troops are now playing a key role in training the new Ivorian army. |
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