France/Afghanistan

Families of dead French soldiers visit Kabul

Article published on the 2008-09-12 Latest update 2008-12-04 11:22 TU

Ceremony in honour of soldiers killed in Afghanistan, Les Invalides, Paris, August 2008
(Photo: France 24)

Families of French soldiers killed in Afghanistan visited the country on Friday. They were accompanied by French Defence Minister, Hervé Morin.

They spent seven hours in Afghanistan and met with French officers including General Michel Stollsteiner the commander of the French troops on the ground.

The visit took place on a base of the International Security Assistance Force and involved military and religious ceremonies.

Seventeen relatives in all flew on the military plane that President Sarkozy put at their disposal for the trip. Seven of them had lost a family member in the ambush of 18 August that left ten French soldiers dead. Ten others had seen family members killed in 2006 and 2007.

A further 21 troops were also wounded in last August's attack which was the worst suffered by the French army in 25 years. Speaking on the French television channel France 2, Morin said it was "inconceivable" that France withdraw from Afghanistan.

The families of the dead soldiers are now due to meet President Sarkozy at the Elysée palace on Friday 19 September. This will be the second time the families have been received by the President.