Sarkozy: France "won't be intimidated by barbarism" in Afghanistan

Jan 25, 2012, 15:23 GMT

Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy told a memorial service for four soldiers killed last week in Afghanistan Wednesday that France would not be 'intimidated' by Taliban 'barbarism'.

His remarks at the service at Varces base in south-east France comes five days after he suggested France might accelerate its troop withdrawal over the attack.

'We will not let ourselves be intimidated by this barbarism,' a solemn-looking Sarkozy said, expressing his condolences to the victims' families and fellow soldiers.

'Discouragement is not part of the vocabulary of our army,' he said, adding that all French troops who accepted overseas missions were 'aware of the dangers'.

'I know I can count on your courage, on your energy to continue your mission,' he told troops at the base.

Last Friday Sarkozy had threatened to accelerate the withdrawal of French troops over the shooting dead of the four soldiers by an Afghan soldier during a training exercise.

The current coalition timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops stipulates end 2014 as the deadline for the last troops to leave the country.

Sarkozy and Afghan President Hamid Karzai are to discuss the situation during a visit by Karzai to Paris on Friday.

The French government has already ruled out a rushed troop withdrawal, which could embolden the Taliban and endanger French and coalition troops.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe rebuffed calls by the opposition Socialist Party to bring home the remaining 3,600 French troops by the end of 2012.

'We mustn't give into panic,' Juppe told the National Assembly.

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