LOC18:03
15:03 GMT
PARIS, Jan 11 (KUNA) -- A French soldier was killed and another gravely
wounded in a clash with Taliban militants in Afghanistan on Monday, the French
Presidency announced.
France has now lost around 40 men in the Afghan conflict that is now
entering its second decade and there are approximately 100,000 foreign troops
deployed in Afghanistan, with more on the way.
The latest losses took place when the French contingent was attacked while
on patrol with a section of the Afghan army near the Alasay Valley, northwest
of Kabul, the French Presidency said in a statement.
"The Head of State reaffirmed his support for the Afghan people and Afghan
authorities. He strongly condemned this blind violence and expressed the
determination of France to continue to work within the International Security
and Assistance Force (ISAF)," President Nicolas Sarkozy was quoted as saying
by his office.
Sarkozy said that ISAF had been given an international mission to establish
stability in Afghanistan. (end)
jk.mt
KUNA 111803 Jan 10NNNN