Citation
PARIS, April 12 (Reuter) - France said on Tuesday one third of its 500
troops in Rwanda were pulling out after completing the evacuation of
French nationals from the war-torn central African country.
The Defence Ministry, anxious to stress that troops rushed in for the
evacuation would not become involved in the civil war, said those
staying behind were working with Belgian forces to evacuate remaining
foreigners.
France wants to show that its intervention in Rwanda is strictly
limited to evacuating nationals whose lives are being endangered,
the
ministry said.
This is why it is withdrawing an infantry company today, cutting by
one third the troops deployed in Rwanda over the past three days.
France closed down its embassy in Kigali earlier on Tuesday and said
all French nationals who wanted to leave Rwanda had had gone.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Richard Duque told reporters that Ambassador
Jean-Michel Marlaud and his staff had left for Bangui, capital of the
Central African Republic.
French soldiers in Kigali were able to ensure the departure of about
1,600 people, including nearly the entire French community of Rwanda,
he said.
Duque said the 1,600 included Europeans and Americans as well as
Rwandans who had sought refuge at the embassy and were taken mainly to
neighbouring countries.
The Defence Ministry said 454 French citizens had flown out on French
military planes.
The ministry did not did not say when the remaining French soldiers
would leave Rwanda.
(c) Reuters Limited 1994
