Hollande defends troop pullout on Afghanistan visit

President Francois Hollande visited Afghanistan on Friday to defend France's imminent departure from the war, telling troops that it would be coordinated closely with Afghan and NATO allies.

Hollande with Karzai

Hollande met French soldiers deployed in the volatile province of Kapisa and held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on his first visit to the country where French troops have been fighting the Taliban since the 2001 US-led invasion.

He explained his decision to recall French combat troops by the end of 2012, a year earlier than Paris initially planned, and two years before NATO allies.

Read more: France24

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Plane carrying French President hit by Lightning

A plane carrying Francois Hollande was forced to turn back to Paris, after apparently being struck by lightning en route to Berlin.

French officials say no one was hurt, but that the plane returned to Paris as a precaution.

The newly-inaugurated French President boarded a second flight, in order to attend a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Watch Video: BBC News

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