By IANS,
Paris : Two Indians were killed and five wounded when French troops fired at vehicles trying to enter the Bangui airport in the Central African Republic, Xinhua reported.
The French defence ministry said the “accident” occurred “in a particularly confusing situation” as French troops at the airport had been fired upon from an unknown source.
“These vehicles were transporting Chadian and Indian nationals. Despite warning shots fired by troops guarding the site, the vehicles kept going at high speed,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Two Indian nationals died. French forces immediately took charge of the injured Indians and the Chadians who were driven to an aid facility,” the ministry said.
The statement said five other Indians and four Chadians got wounded in the accident.
Expressing deep regret for the killings, the French defence ministry said it will investigate the exact circumstances that led to the firing.
France has sent 350 soldiers to the Central African Republic to reinforce its protection of French citizens in the conflict-ridden country where the capital Bangui was seized by rebels Sunday.