November 19, 2008	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 20, 1429

DUBAI, Nov 18: A Taliban military leader threatened to carry out attacks in Paris unless French troops are pulled out of Afghanistan, in a video broadcast Monday on Al-Arabiya television. The video, which the Dubai-based TV station did not say how it obtained or when it was filmed, also claimed responsibility for an operation in August in which 10 French soldiers were killed.

The video shows a Taliban military leader, identified as Faruq, saying in comments dubbed into Arabic that the French can await their response in Paris if French troops are not withdrawn from Afghanistan.

He also claimed Taliban responsibility for an Aug 18 attack around 60 kilometres south of Kabul in which 10 French soldiers were killed and 21 wounded.

The attack was widely attributed to the Taliban at the time, and the French media published photographs of Taliban wearing uniforms from troops killed in the clash.

France has around 2,600 soldiers deployed in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force.—AFP