French troops enforcing a ceasefire in Ivory Coast clashed last night with anti-government forces, leaving 30 rebels dead and nine French soldiers wounded.
The rebel attack, reportedly the biggest against French forces since they deployed in the former colony in September, was blamed on renegade elements opposed to the October 17th ceasefire, which France helped to renegotiate last week.
French general staff spokesman Col Christian Baptiste said that "totally uncontrolled" elements were responsible for the attack.
"Today's fighting shows that some of the armed rebel forces don't seem to go along with the measures agreed to at the weekend," Col Baptiste said.
The military spokesman was referring to a deal secured during a lightning visit last weekend by French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, in which President Laurent Gbagbo and the main rebel group, the People's Movement of Ivory Coast (MPCI), agreed to maintain the ceasefire established in mid-October.
AFP