Military Intervention in CAR ‘Dangerous But Vital: Hollande
Local Editor
French President Francois Hollande described his country's intervention in the Central African Republic as "dangerous but vital to avoid bloodbath".
Hollande's remarks came during a visit to the notoriously unstable former colony to shore up morale after two elite French soldiers were killed.
"It was time to act," Hollande stated. "In Bangui itself, nearly 400 people were killed... There was no time to procrastinate," he added, referring to a day of bloodshed last week.
"France is not here in the Central African Republic out of any self-interest," Hollande added. "France has come to defend human dignity."
The French campaign in Central African Republic is "dangerous" but "necessary if one wants to avoid carnage here," he said.
Hollande flew into the curfew-bound capital Bangui from Johannesburg after attending a memorial service for South African peace icon Nelson Mandela.
Upon arrival, the French leader paid tribute to his country's two fallen soldiers, bowing before their coffins at a base at Bangui airport.
The first losses of the French campaign overnight Monday underlined the risks involved in a complex mission to disarm rogue rebels who have plunged the country into chaos and fuelled Christian-Muslim violence.
Antoine Le Quinio, 22, and Nicolas Vokaer, 23, both members of the crack Eighth Parachute regiment based at Castres in southwestern France, died after a fierce firefight during a night patrol in Bangui.
France has deployed 1,600 troops to halt the sectarian-tinged violence in the impoverished but mineral-rich country.
Source: AFP
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