Paris opposes release of Afghans who killed French UN worker, troops

PARIS: France on Saturday officially protested against the release of three men jailed for the murders of French nationals in Afghanistan as part of Kabul's decision to release 400 Taliban prisoners.

The Afghan government and the Taliban are set to meet within days of the prisoner release being completed, a move that has drawn widespread condemnation after it emerged that many of the inmates were involved in attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners.

The group of prisoners, whose release has begun, include two men who murdered Frenchwoman Bettina Goislard, an employee of the UN refugee agency, in the eastern city of Ghazni on November 16, 2003, and a former Afghan soldier who killed five French troops and injured 13 others in 2012 in Kapisa province.

France is "firmly opposed to the liberation of individuals sentenced for crimes against French nationals, especially soldiers and humanitarian workers who served with dedication at the side of our Afghan partners for the security and assistance of people in need," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We have consequently asked Afghan authorities not to proceed with the liberation of these terrorists".

Goislard's family has also strongly denounced the move.