Four French soldiers killed by burka-wearing bomber

[King Solomon]

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A suicide bomber dressed in a burka blew himself up near a French patrol in Afghanistan on Saturday, killing four soldiers and wounding five in one of the deadliest attacks on the French contingent in months.


French soldiers from the 7th Mountain Infantry Battalion on patrol near Tagab in Kapisa province in Afghanistan Photo: AFP

1:04PM BST 09 Jun 2012

The attack occurred in the mountainous Kapisa province in the east of the country, an area mainly patrolled by a French force under Nato command.

"It was an unfortunate incident. There was a patrol of coalition soldiers in a small bazaar and they were attacked by a suicide bomber wearing a burka," said Sediq Sediqqi, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman.

French President Francois Hollande's office in Paris confirmed that the soldiers involved in the attack were French.

A statement from his office said among the five wounded, three were in a serious condition, and Mr Hollande would dispatch defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to Afghanistan on Sunday.

Until Saturday's incident, 83 French soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan since the US-led military intervention began in 2001 – the fourth highest number of military deaths by nation, behind the United States, Britain and Canada.
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The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in the Nijrab district of the province, saying in an email message that a suicide attacker had struck the foreign soldiers.

Violence has surged across Afghanistan in recent weeks, with the Taliban vowing to target the Western-backed Afghan government and security forces, as well as the 130,000 foreign troops in the country, most of whom are due to leave by the end of 2014.

France plans to withdraw most of its roughly 3,400 troops by the end of this year, two years ahead of the timetable agreed by Nato. French troops have suffered a series of attacks including several by rogue Afghan soldiers, triggering demands in France for their troops to be brought home early.

Last month Mr Hollande, during a visit to the volatile province, defended the decision to pull out early, saying the job of fighting terrorism was nearly done, and France would focus on co-operating on the civilian front.

France's decision has raised concerns that other members of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) coalition may follow its example and accelerate their withdrawal plans, handing security prematurely to fledgling Afghan forces.

Kapisa is one of the provinces scheduled to be handed over to Afghan forces in the current third phase of transition before 2014.

[blackops]

Rip to tje soldiers very sad news

[regular]

Oh its very sad to hear that the poor NATO soldiers are getting killed indiscriminately by these ragtag Taliban. I guess the poor NATO pplz don't have any way to defend themselves against these 15th century mountain warriors..Myabe its the best way to save themselves is to runaway from the battlefield then but that would be too much cowardly....

[SinoChallenger]

France begins ban on niqab and burqa | World news | The Guardian

It struck fear into the hearts of macho Frenchmen.

[regular]

France begins ban on niqab and burqa | World news | The Guardian

It struck fear into the hearts of macho Frenchmen.

Yea thats true!!! The poor Frenchies are even getting scared of their own shadows in the dark.....

[ManuZ]

Yea thats true!!! The poor Frenchies are even getting scared of their own shadows in the dark.....

Soldiers fighting a war are not meant to be fearful....
Suicide attacks like this will not hit their morale...
They will continue to fight till their country calls them back...
Taliban dressed in burka......i can see who the real coward is....

[Secur]

Taliban dressed in burka......i can see who the real coward is....

The rest of the world knows it as " strategy " ... The one who has the courage to take his own life is a coward ?

So as you sow shall you reap , NATO !

[Amolthebest]

The rest of the world knows it as " strategy " ... The one who has the courage to take his own life is a coward ?

So as you sow shall you reap , NATO !

I see , coward Mumbai attackers are real heroes for some guys here. Now next time think before blaming terrorists who attacked on your navel base and killed Benzir Bhutto.Kudos.

[SpArK]

RIP to French soldiers.

Lets hope the world gets free from radicalised fundamentalist religious extremists soon.

[Sashan]

RIP to the brave souls.

[Secur]

I see , coward Mumbai attackers are real heroes for some guys here. Now next time think before blaming terrorists who attacked on your navel base and killed Benzir Bhutto.Kudos.

Did you see me mention Mumbai attackers or anything related ? ... Or your lot is again showing its nasty habit of trolling around ? Next time , think before declaring both attacks to be the same !

[OrionHunter]

Taliban dressed in burka......i can see who the real coward is....

Well, all's fair in love and war!

[pm modi]

rip to the soldiers

[kobiraaz]

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Innalillahi Oa inna ilaihi Rajiun, to my martyr Afghan bro!