By IANS,
Paris : The number of French soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 has risen to 73, the government said Friday.
The 73rd soldier was killed Thursday when his vehicle was hit by an explosive device, Xinhua reported citing a statement from the presidential Elysee Palace.
The soldier’s convoy was struck in Kapisa region, which left four other soldiers wounded.
President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced a withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan by 2014. A quarter of the troops were expected to return to France by the end of 2012.
About 4,000 French soldiers are deployed on Afghan territory as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
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