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MILITARY

French staff sergeant killed in Mali clash

A French staff sergeant was killed in northern Mali early on Wednesday in an operation by French forces against "an armed terrorist group", President Francois Hollande's office said.

French staff sergeant killed in Mali clash
French troops intervened in Mali in January 2013 to chase out hardline Islamists. Photo: Joel Saget/AFP

Two other French soldiers were injured in the “violent clash” overnight in the Tigharghar mountain range, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.

The killed soldier was a 32-year-old former Afghanistan veteran who belonged to Commando Parachute Group 10.

“Our troops approached a terrorist camp of around 30 individuals. Particularly violent clashes then took place that (Tuesday) night,” Le Drian said in a statement.

Hollande “expresses his deep respect for the sacrifice” of the officer during “a particularly perilous mission”, the Elysée Palace said in a statement.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls also expressed his “great sadness” over the soldier's death and praised the “professionalism, determination and courage” of the French troops stationed in Mali in their fight against extremists.

French troops intervened in Mali in January 2013 to chase out hardline Islamists, including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which had seized control of the country's northern desert cities.

This intervention was replaced several months ago by a wider counter-terrorism operation, codenamed Barkhane, in five countries along the southern rim of the Sahara including Mali.

The operation is currently focusing on stemming a resurgence of jihadists in Mali and cutting their rear bases in Libya.

Drones, helicopters, fighter jets, armoured vehicles and transport planes are also part of Operation Barkhane — the name of a crescent-shaped sand dune in the desert.

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POLITICS

France vows to block EU-South America trade deal in current form

France has vowed to prevent a trade deal between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc from being signed with its current terms, as the country is rocked by farmer protests.

France vows to block EU-South America trade deal in current form

The trade deal, which would include agricultural powers Argentina and Brazil, is among a litany of complaints by farmers in France and elsewhere in Europe who have been blocking roads to demand better conditions for their sector.

They fear it would further depress their produce prices amid increased competition from exporting nations that are not bound by strict and costly EU environmental laws.

READ ALSO Should I cancel my trip to France because of farmers’ protests?

“This Mercosur deal, as it stands, is not good for our farmers. It cannot be signed as is, it won’t be signed as is,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire told broadcasters CNews and Europe 1.

The European Commission acknowledged on Tuesday that the conditions to conclude the deal with Mercosur, which also includes Paraguay and Uruguay, “are not quite there yet”.

The talks, however, are continuing, the commission said.

READ ALSO 5 minutes to understand French farmer protests

President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France opposes the deal because it “doesn’t make Mercosur farmers and companies abide by the same rules as ours”.

The EU and the South American nations have been negotiating since 2000.

The contours of a deal were agreed in 2019, but a final version still needs to be ratified.

The accord aims to cut import tariffs on – mostly European – industrial and pharmaceutical goods, and on agricultural products.

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