By KUNA,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday presided over an important ceremony to honour the ten French soldiers killed while on a reconnaissance patrol in Afghanistan last Monday.
In the presence of Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Defence Minister Herve Morin, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and most of the other members of his cabinet, Sarkozy, visibly moved, sat at the head of the congregation for a religious ceremony, which included tearful family members of those killed.
The ceremony, televised on several national and private channels here, also saw Sarkozy posthumously award the “Legion of Honour” medal to the young French soldiers, who were ambushed by Taliban militiamen about 50 kilometres to the east of the Afghan capital, Kabul.
The casualties also received military honours and recognition for valour.
The French leader is also meeting privately Thursday with the families of those killed and the press has been kept at a distance from the ceremony, with the exception of television cameras.
After the religious ceremony in the St. Louis Church in the old military hospital complex, known as “Invalides,” a military honours ceremony was held outside the church in the courtyard in the presence of Sarkozy and the government and military hierarchy.
The French leader paid tribute to the three regiments that lost troops in Mondays operation, which also left 21 soldiers wounded and which has generated a polemic about Frances role in Afghanistan and about how the reconnaissance operation may have gone badly wrong.
French daily ‘Le Monde’ in its Thursday edition quoted wounded soldiers as saying they had been attacked by mistake by NATO air support and friendly fire and that they had also been shot at by Afghan army troops who were behind them.
This version could not be officially confirmed but it has led for calls for clarifications about the operation and apparent failures in communication and coordination.
Separately, it was announced that the French parliament will hold an extraordinary session to debate the Afghanistan question on September 22.
In a eulogy to the young dead, the French President told the assembled mourners and “today is a day of mourning for the French nation.” He said that “sadness and pain hits the families” of those lost, but the “emotion affects the whole nation.” He praised the commitment of those killed and their devotion to doing their duty and “making the ultimate sacrifice, that of their lives.” Sarkozy said they had fought “for the freedom of human rights which are at the heart of the values of our Republic.” He stressed that todays ceremony was to attest to the courage and devotion of the soldiers who died far away from their homeland, while “fulfilling their mission, a difficult mission, a dangerous mission” 50 kilometres east of Kabul.
Sarkozy recalled that the French force was ambushed by “Taliban terrorists” who hailed heavy fire on them and he said that the troops were “in a fight against barbarity and obscurantism.” “It is all of France that is evaluating today what the French army stands forand France can be proud of what its army is.” Sarkozy also said that France would also remain in Afghanistan “because we have a mandateand has the task of ensuring peace in the world alongside the other major countries.” He warned: “We dont have the right to lost over there.” France was one of the first countries to join the United States in attacking Afghanistan and dethroning the Taliban in 2001 and Sarkozy recalled with pride the courage of French forces since that date.
Some 14 French soldiers were killed since 2002 up until Mondays major loss. France has just under 3,000 troops in Afghanistan, currently, and has responsibility for the central capital zone around Kabul, as well as taking more responsibility to the east toward Khost, after Sarkozy approved an increase of 700 troops in the French deployment last April.
In concluding his address, Thursday, Sarkozy told the displayed coffins of the dead: “France will never forget you,” and he decorated each with the prestigious Legion of Honour.