By KUNA,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy has sent a letter of support to his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, who was the target of an assassination attempt in Kabul Sunday, Sarkozys office announced Monday.
Karzai survived the attack, claimed by the Taliban militants, but three people including a parliamentarian and a child were killed, while several others were wounded in a hail of automatic fire. Mortars were also fired at the military parade presided over by Karzai and which was attended by Afghan notables and Ambassadors from major countries, including the US, Britain and France.
“After the cowardly attacked that targeted the Afghan authorities in Kabul, including your own person, I wanted to personally attest to the support and solidarity of France,” Sarkozy said in the letter.
“We condemn with the greatest firmness this odious act committed by fanatics whose only aim is to call into question the progress that your country and its leaders, with the support of the international community, have courageously worked to accomplish on the path to stabilization, reconstruction and democratization,” the French leader wrote.
Sarkozy promised “resolute commitment” in Afghanistan and he stressed his decision to increase Frances deployment in that country by 700 men, bringing the total to around 2,300.
He said these men were aimed at “reinforcing the Afghan forces in their fight against terrorism and barbarity.” Sarkozy further noted that a major conference in Paris June 12 on Afghanistan would be a key opportunity to address “shared objectives” on Afghanistan.
He also transmitted his condolences to the families of the victims of Sunday attacks and to the Afghan people.