France warns of early Afghan exit

Jan 21, 2012 - Philippe Alfroy |

Paris

French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned Friday he may accelerate the French withdrawal from Afghanistan after an Afghan soldier shot dead four unarmed French troops during a sports session inside a base.

Mr Sarkozy suspended French military training and joint combat operations and dispatched defence minister Gerard Longuet to probe Friday’s attack in which at least 15 French soldiers were wounded, eight seriously. “The French Army stands alongside its allies but we cannot accept that a single one of our soldiers be wounded or killed by our allies, it’s unacceptable,” Mr Sarkozy said.
“If security conditions are not clearly established, then the question of an early return of the French Army will be asked,” he said. A source said the shooting happened as “the French were just finishing their sports session” at the Gwam base. “The soldiers were not protected. They could not defend themselves. He fired at the group. Then they neutralised him,” the source said. — AFP

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