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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/09/24/wivory24.xml&sSheet=/news/2002/09/24/ixworld.html French close in on Ivory Coast rebels By Tim Butcher Africa Correspondent -[I]t seemed likely that the heavily armed convoy of French troops, ostensibly sent to rescue around 500 foreigners from Bouake, would be used to deliver the decisive blow against the rebels. -The deployment echoed that by Britain to its former colony, Sierra Leone, in May 2000. Whitehall repeatedly said troops were there only to secure the withdrawal of British passport holders. British troops remain to this day.... A French expeditionary force edged towards the main rebel-held town in the Ivory Coast yesterday as the once stable west African country remained gripped by violence and instability. Rebels in the town of Bouake threatened to fight to the death against troops loyal to the government of President Laurent Gbagbo. But it seemed likely that the heavily armed convoy of French troops, ostensibly sent to rescue around 500 foreigners from Bouake, would be used to deliver the decisive blow against the rebels. The French defence minister, Michele Alliot-Marie, claimed that the reinforced French presence was a precautionary measure to help French citizens and others. About 100 American children thought to be are at a school for mission families in Bouake. The deployment echoed that by Britain to its former colony, Sierra Leone, in May 2000. Whitehall repeatedly said troops were there only to secure the withdrawal of British passport holders. British troops remain to this day, a major deterrent to a return to civil war. Mr Ggabgo has the support of Paris and it is known that the French government would prefer a swift end to the Ivory Coast's troubles, which began last Thursday with an armed uprising by soldiers. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
