2 French troops die disarming C. African rebels

Source: AP, Excite

By KRISTA LARSON and JAMEY KEATEN

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) - Gunmen fatally shot two French soldiers in Central African Republic's volatile capital, officials said Tuesday, underscoring the enormous challenges of a new French military intervention in its former colony that includes disarming thousands of rebels accused of attacking civilians.

President Michel Djotodia condemned the attack on the French forces and blamed former leader Francois Bozize, whom he ousted from power in March, for creating the turmoil now being unleashed on the streets of Bangui. More than 500 people have been killed in the capital since Thursday and some 100,000 forced from their homes, aid officials say.

The deaths of the French soldiers came as French President Francois Hollande paid a visit to Central African Republic on Tuesday night, heading into the tumultuous capital after attending a memorial in South Africa for Nelson Mandela.

Speaking in a huge airport hangar, Hollande told French troops their comrades died "for a noble and beautiful mission. They gave their lives to save others."

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French President Francois Hollande, left, addresses the troops during a stopover from South Africa in Bangui, Central African Republic, Tuesday Dec. 10, 2013. Two French soldiers were killed in combat overnight since France stepped up its presence to restive the former French colony to help quell inter-religious violence. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)