French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday warned people to be constantly vigilant faced with the threat of a terrorist attack in France and in the wake of the London bombings that killed at least 52 people a week ago. Speaking at a military reception at the Defense Ministry on the eve of France's National Day, Chirac said that there was a "terrible terrorist threat" and French citizens must mobilize and show "vigilance at all times". Chirac said that the "cowardly and dramatic attacks in London last week have come to remind us cruelly once again" of the need to be on our guard.He added that international stability and internal security went hand-in-hand and he informed the military, involved in security duty in line with France's "Vigipirate" security plan, that they were carrying out crucially important duties. "Today, international stability and internal security go together. Your commitment among your fellow citizens in the framework of Vigipirate, (and) the protection of our air space and our maritime access is clearly part of this security to which our compatriots aspire," he told the mainly military audience.
He also praised the role played by French troops on two fronts in Afghanistan, where they are involved in the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) and in tracking down remnants of the Taliban and Al-Qaida on the Afghan-Pakistan border. France has about 200 Special Forces in that latter operation which is little advertised here and is part of a joint operation with US Special Forces in Afghanistan.