France to increase troops in Afghanistan -------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, December 18, 2005 (Kabul):
French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie has said the country will increase the number of troops in Afghanistan next year.
France is scheduled to assume command of the international peacekeeping forces in the second half of 2006.
The minister said the increase would be "in the hundreds," but could not give a specific figure yet.
France currently has about 600 troops in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The ISAF has a total of nearly 9,000 troops.
Alliot-Marie said the security situation in Afghanistan remains a serious concern, and noted that suicide bombings and other attacks that do not involve face-to-face fighting are on the rise. (AP)