France assists Djibouti in clash with Eritrea

DJIBOUTI - Djibouti says French warships will arrive off its coast in coming days after the tiny Red Sea state clashed with neighbouring Eritrea last week, killing a dozen Djiboutian soldiers and wounding dozens.

Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said the

situation had calmed after several days' fighting last week in a

border area overlooking strategic Red Sea shipping lanes.

"France will send warships in the coming days to the Ras

Doumeira area ...

 

our forces remain vigilant," he told reporters at the

weekend.

 

In Paris, the Defence Ministry said three French ships were in

the region, two of which - a helicopter carrier and a frigate - had

reached Djibouti's territorial waters.

 

"For the moment, their mission is to provide logistical, medical

and intelligence support - there is no participation in combat,"

armed forces spokesman Christophe Prazuck told Reuters.

 

France has one of its largest overseas military bases in

Djibouti and also signed a mutual defence pact following Djibouti's

independence in 1977.

 

Eritrea has neither confirmed nor denied the clashes, but says

Djibouti is waging an "anti-Eritrea" campaign.

 

It has given no details of any Eritrean casualties.

 

The Djiboutian foreign minister added: "The messages we are

sending the Eritrean government are strong enough to make Eritrea

understand that if new aggression happens, the consequences will be

severe."

 

Nampa-Reuters

 

"France will send warships in the coming days to the Ras Doumeira

area ...our forces remain vigilant," he told reporters at the

weekend.In Paris, the Defence Ministry said three French ships were

in the region, two of which - a helicopter carrier and a frigate -

had reached Djibouti's territorial waters."For the moment, their

mission is to provide logistical, medical and intelligence support

- there is no participation in combat," armed forces spokesman

Christophe Prazuck told Reuters.France has one of its largest

overseas military bases in Djibouti and also signed a mutual

defence pact following Djibouti's independence in 1977.Eritrea has

neither confirmed nor denied the clashes, but says Djibouti is

waging an "anti-Eritrea" campaign.It has given no details of any

Eritrean casualties.The Djiboutian foreign minister added: "The

messages we are sending the Eritrean government are strong enough

to make Eritrea understand that if new aggression happens, the

consequences will be severe."Nampa-Reuters

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