Associated Press
November 19
rench troops waiting to enter northern Afghanistan to
help
secure the area for humanitarian aid work have faced delays in
Uzbekistan,
a spokesman for the Defense Ministry said Monday.
The troops are facing "procedural problems and difficulties of coordination between the different parties involved," said the spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity. He added that troops from other nations in the coalition are facing similar delays.
Of about 60 French soldiers currently in Uzbekistan, some 40 are to go to the Mazar-e-Sharif area, which fell to anti-Taliban forces last week. Others will remain behind in Uzbekistan to establish a headquarters, the spokesman said.
About 250 more troops preparing to leave France for Uzbekistan will depart "when the team already there has assessed the needs on the ground," the spokesman said.
Warplanes are also playing a part in France's role in Afghanistan. They will attack suspected Afghan strongholds of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network in missions starting in the next two weeks. Up to 10 Mirage 2000 fighter planes will use bases in Central Asia, north of Afghanistan, to launch strikes on al-Qaida hideouts.