Military

France To Withdraw Hundreds Of Troops From Afghanistan By The End Of The Year

June 24, 2011

President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that "several hundred" French troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan before the end of 2011.

Four thousand French troops are currently stationed in Afghanistan.

On June 23, Sarkozy's office said France would carry out a progressive pullback "in a proportional manner and in a timeframe similar to the pullback of the American reinforcements."

The statement came after U.S. President Barack Obama announced that one-third of U.S. forces will be withdrawn from Afghanistan over the next 18 months.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/france_to_withdraw_hundreds_of_troops_from_afghanistan_by_the_end_of_the_year/24245631.html

Copyright (c) 2011. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.