French troops kill militiamen in Central Africa: Officer

Paris: French peacekeeping troops killed several militiamen after they came under attack during a patrol in the north of the Central African Republic, an officer with the African peacekeeping force said Tuesday. Backed by war planes, the French troops opened fire using heavy weapons on gunmen from the former rebel movement Seleka who attacked them when they entered Batangafo on Monday, the officer said on condition of anonymity.  Several fighters were killed, he added.