The French president has spent time holding the coffins of the troops killed in Afghanistan during yesterdays attack by Taliban insurgents.

Nicholas Sarkozy arrived in Kabul on Wednesday and told the troops based in Afghanistan that France is at their side.

Yesterday ,10 French soldiers were killed and more than 20 others were injured in an ambush by Taliban insurgents 50 kilometres east of Kabul.

Mr Sarkozy met the wounded to show support and in a statement he said France is committed to pursuing the struggle against terrorism for democracy and freedom.

The ambush was the latest in a series of Taliban attacks close to the capital.

Other NATO soldiers near Kabul yesterday stopped a mass Taliban suicide attack on a US military base.

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