ISIL Enemy of France - not Asad, Says Hollande

In the aftermath of the Paris massacre, sanity seems to be prevailing in the world leaders and President Francois Holland has said that the Islamic State is his country's biggest enemy, not Syrian president Bashar Assad.

Hollande has been quoted as saying during the emergency meeting of the French parliament: "In Syria, we're looking for the political solution to the problem, which is not Bashar Assad. Our enemy in Syria is ISIL." 

It may be added for information that on Friday the 13th November, eight extremists armed with automatic weapons and wearing explosive belts perpetrated seven attacks at restaurants, the Bataclan concert hall and in the vicinity of the Stade de France stadium across Paris, killing some 130 people.

Read more at Sputnik

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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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Obama warns Nato of 'hard days ahead' in Afghanistan

US President Barack Obama has warned of "hard days ahead" at a Nato summit in Chicago dominated by the issue of withdrawal from Afghanistan.

France's new President Francois Hollande has again said he will pull French troops out by the end of 2012, nearly two years ahead of schedule.

Nato is preparing to hand over security to Afghan forces by the end of 2014.

Read more: BBC News

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France's Hollande: Tough line on Muslim customs

Jakarta Post reports:

French presidential front-runner Francois Hollande says he would not allow separate menus in public cafeterias or separate hours in swimming pools for men and women to satisfy demands of the Muslim community.

Hollande, the Socialist facing off against conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy in Sunday's presidential election runoff, also said he would firmly support France's ban on the face-covering Islamic veils.

Hollande said if he is elected president, "I will apply the law" on the face veils. He said different swimming pool hours "will not be tolerated."

Sarkozy also has criticized demands for special treatment from France's large Muslim community.

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