Region | Palestinian Territories
France sending frigate to stem weapons smuggling to Gaza
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is ordering that a frigate be immediately deployed off Gaza to survey the area and fight arms smuggling.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:37 January 24, 2009
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Paris: French President Nicolas Sarkozy is ordering that a frigate be immediately deployed off Gaza to survey the area and fight arms smuggling.
According to a statement from Sarkozy's office on Friday, the French leader is asking that the helicopter-carrier be immediately deployed in international waters off Gaza "in full cooperation with Egypt and Israel."
The move is aimed at consolidating the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
Sarkozy is also ordering Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to "coordinate closely" with the United States and Europe and propose other ways to fight arms smuggling.
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