French army chief resigns over drill shooting incident

Paris: The head of France's army has resigned following a weekend shooting at a military show that injured 17 when real bullets were used instead of blanks, the French presidency said on Tuesday.

President Nicolas Sarkozy accepted General Bruno Cuche's resignation, Sarkozy's office said.

The defence minister, meanwhile, suspended the use of blank munitions at military shows for the public.

Investigators are looking into Sunday's display of hostage-freeing techniques at the Laperrine military barracks in southern France.

Sarkozy pledged "consequences" following the shooting.

Serious failings

Most of those injured were civilians, and three were children.

Hospital officials said on Monday that none of the injuries appeared life-threatening.

The soldier who fired the bullets was taken into custody.

Montpellier Prosecutor Brice Robin said the shooting appeared to be unintentional.

"According to his early statements, it appears that he made a mistake while loading his gun," Robin said on Monday.

"This act was absolutely not premeditated; I want to be clear about this point."

Without waiting for the results of the judicial and military investigations, Defence Minister Herve Morin ordered the army chief of staff to prepare punishments for those responsible, the ministry said in a statement, without saying what the sanctions would be.