Afghanistan/France

French soldier killed, two wounded

Article published on the 2009-08-01 Latest update 2009-08-01 15:58 TU

A US soldier carries concertina wire in Kunar province
(Photo: Reuters)

A French soldier has been killed in Afghanistan and two others wounded, according to French President Nicolas Sakozy's office. Three US soldiers have died in bomb blasts in Kandahar province.

The latest death takes the French army's death toll in Afghanistan to 29.

The troops were attacked by insurgents, while taking part in a join operation with the Afghan army in Ghayne valley, north-east of Kabul.

The President heard the news with "great emotion", according to the statement. It said that Sarkozy was shocked by "the cowardly and barbarian practices of the enemies of peace in Afghanistan" and "confirmed France's determination to struggle, at the sides of the Afghan people, against obscurantism and terrorism".

On the Bastille Day national holiday, Sarkozy promised to maintain the French participation in the US-led operation in the country.

Attacks on French forces have increased, along with other violence, during the campaign for the presidential and provincial elections on 20 August.

Eight other attacks on French troops have taken place in Kapisa, Wardak and Logar provinces since 21 July.

Last August the French army suffered its greatest losses so far when ten soldiers were killed in an ambush in Uzbin valley, east of Kabul.

President Hamid Karzai promised to tackle violence at his first election rally outside Kabul on Saturday.

"Terrorism is still bothering us, is still destroying the country ... for us the first thing is peace and national unity," he told a crowd of thousands in Kayan village in the northern Baghlan province.

Flanked by a leader of the Shia-Muslim Ismaili sect, he also promised to and improve relations with other countries and develop the economy and infrastructure.