Sarkozy arrives in Afghanistan to show support
Wednesday, 20 Aug 2008 10:51
French president Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived in Afghanistan
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French president Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived in Afghanistan to show his support for France's military after ten soldiers were killed on Tuesday.
Mr Sarkozy has said France will continue its mission in Afghanistan and is committed to the fight against terrorism.
On Tuesday, ten French troops were killed and another 21 injured in a Taliban ambush to the east of Afghanistan's capital Kabul.
The deaths bring the total number of French soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2002 to 24, according to the AFP news agency.
Paris has insisted it is still committed to sending an extra 700 troops to the region by the end of the month.
Mr Sarkozy spoke to the injured soldiers from Tuesday's attack this morning and is expected to meet with Afghan president Hamid Karazi later.
He said France was "resolved to pursue the fight against terrorism, for democracy and liberty".
"The cause is just, it is the honour of France and its armies to defend it," said Mr Sarkozy.