French troops in ivory coast battle

[vade_101 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">A rebel group encountered a heavily armed contingent of the French Foreign Legion based in the western town of Duekoue.

The rebels say they did not intend to attack the French position and were chasing the Ivory Coast army

...

It is unclear how many rebels have died, but there were no French injuries.

<span id='postcolor'>

Ouch.

its almost enough to make you feel sorry for them.

Story

[ran 0]

it is clear that the french armed forces are an interposition force in this conflict and did well , just what they were asked for , but now , we have to see if it would work the other way ... if the french army would fire at ivorian army chasing rebels ....

[vade_101 0]

One has to wonder if the Ivory Coast army would be stupid enought to attack a Heavily Armed Foreign Legion detachment.

Hiding behind one was a good idea though.

The situation does seem to be getting more and more similar to the one the British faced in Sierra Leone. And if you are just there to protect French/Foreign nationals why deploy a "Fighting Unit" Such as the Legion, because of that units capabilities or because the French Army never seems quite sure what to do with them? in some regards this would seem to mirror the change in attitude in Sierra Leone following the deployment of The Parachute Regiment.

But perhaps with 1,500 troops to protect upwards of 20,000 nationals (and the Business intersests that that represents) perhaps they see the best bet is to come down "heavily" on the governments side

[FSPilot 0]

So why are the French in the Ivory Coast? Another French colony?

[Col. Kurtz 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (FSPilot @ Dec. 23 2002,11:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">So why are the French in the Ivory Coast?  Another French colony?<span id='postcolor'>

I believe that the French Army are there to evacuate French Civilians living in the Ivory Coast.

[vade_101 0]

I Think they are there to protect foreign nationals .. but France has a lot of Business interests in the Ivory coast (hence the 20,000 nationals present).