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France confirms four soldiers killed in Afghanistan

09 June 2012 17:46 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Four French soldiers were killed Saturday morning during an operation in eastern Afghanistan, the Elysee Palace confirmed, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The soldiers were attacked in an ambush by insurgents in Kapisa province, some 65 km north of the Afghanistan capital of Kabul.

"An investigation is underway to determine the causes of this tragedy," the Elysee Palace said in a statement.

French President Francois Hollande has asked the country’s defense minister to go to the scene.

Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to reporters.

More than 3,800 French troops have been stationed in Afghanistan within the framework of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the war-torn country.

Hollande, during a visit to Afghanistan on My 25, announced that the French combat force would be home by the end of this year.