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| Europe |
| French court links Chirac to African coup |
| 2006-06-22 |
| Covert attempts by French President Jacques Chirac to exert influence over Africa were exposed by a French court yesterday as it denounced his secret services for conniving with a band of mercenaries in a coup in Comoros Islands. In a damning ruling, the Paris Criminal Tribunal said the French authorities had given at least tacit approval to the 1995 coup led by Bob Denard, the best-known French soldier of fortune. The judgment came as Denard, now 77, and 26 other defendants were found guilty of criminal association in connection with a military operation 11 years ago to oust then Comoros president Said Mohamed Djohar. The court refused a prosecution demand to jail the plotters. It handed out suspended sentences after hearing them claim they were acting with the backing of Mr Chirac's Government. Though France has long been accused of secret operations to maintain its influence in Africa, the ruling constitutes an unprecedented public condemnation of these practices. It is particularly embarrassing for Mr Chirac, who has sought to portray himself asone of the Third World's greatest advocates in the West. "It is clear the French secret services knew of the plan for a coup d'etat conceived by Robert Denard, both its preparation and execution," the court said. "It is also evident that, at the very least, they did nothing to hinder it and that they therefore allowed it to reach its conclusion. "That means political leaders must also have wanted it." Denard led 30 mercenaries, who landed on the Indian Ocean islands in rubber dinghies on September 27, 1995, and captured Mr Djohar in his palace. A week later, Mr Chirac sent a 600-man force that put down the putsch but did not restore Mr Djohar to power. Denard has Alzheimer's disease and attended only the first day of the three-week trial, in February. But in testimony read to the court, he said he "never for one moment believed he was acting against the interests of my country - quite the contrary". Denard spent 30 years in Africa's battlefields, where he was often suspected of acting on behalf of the French authorities. He was involved in four coups or attempted coups in Comoros Islands after it won independence from France in 1975. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #6 If one wanted to do the job correctly, there are others. Just keep the French, and the CIA, out of it. |
| Posted by: Fordesque 2006-06-22 21:38 |
| #5 Alzheimer's isn't so bad really, I've a touch of it myself. I'm constantly meeting new people. As for French intelligence reporting, I suspect one could count on that happening anyway. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-06-22 15:29 |
| #4 Colonel Denard reportedly has an early stage of Alzheimer's Disease. Besides, even were he healthy, one could never be sure the French secret service was not being kept informed. |
| Posted by: Fordesque 2006-06-22 15:03 |
| #3 Denard led 30 mercenaries, who landed on the Indian Ocean islands in rubber dinghies on September 27, 1995, and captured Mr Djohar in his palace. Robert old boy, we have work for you in Bolivia and Venezuela. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-06-22 14:23 |
| #2 Please have Mr Chirac's High Horse saddled up. He's going to have to ride it again soon. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-06-22 10:46 |
| #1 Francafrique... For a very famous "shadow governement" man, cf this bio. |
| Posted by: anonymous5089 2006-06-22 07:39 |