Minister condemns ‘murder’ of French troops

French foreign affairs minister, Alain Juppe has condemned what he called the “murder” of French soldiers by an Afghan Army trainee.

The rogue cadet shot at French troops who were training him, killing four and wounding 17 others.

At a news conference Juppe told journalists: “It is not the first time that an Afghan soldier has murdered a French soldier, and I choose the word ‘murder’ on purpose, because it was truly a murder – that they murdered French soldiers. It is our responsibility, I think, to adapt our withdrawal agenda in the light of these new circumstances.”

However NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said this event should not undermine the good work being achieved in Afghanistan saying: “Such tragic incidents are terrible and grab headlines, but they are isolated. The reality is that every day 130,000 ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) troops from 50 nations fight and train with over 300,000 Afghan troops.”

The shooting has resulted in the immediate suspension of French military operations in Afghanistan, and the possible acceleration of troop withdrawal from the country.

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