charles 0.0.1

data/test/articles/20120525_1534_bbc.co.uk.content.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+French President Francois Hollande has arrived in Afghanistan on a previously unannounced visit.
+
+Mr Hollande, who took office earlier this month, flew into Kabul and is expected to spend only a few hours in Afghanistan, visiting French soldiers.
+
+He is also expected to hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
+
+Mr Hollande wants to withdraw all French combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012, a year earlier than the deadline set by Nicolas Sarkozy.
+
+Mr Hollande is said to want to "explain himself" to French soldiers, and make the reasons for the decision clear to them.
+
+Mr Hollande described the early withdrawal as a "sovereign decision", and added that it would be "conducted in good understanding with our allies, especially President Obama - who understands the reasons - and in close consultation with Afghan authorities".
+
+There are currently about 3,300 French soldiers serving in Afghanistan - the fifth largest contributor to the Nato force.
+
+Eighty-three have been killed during the deployment, which began in 2001.
+
+It is thought some French soldiers will remain in Afghanistan after the combat troops leave.
+
+Their mission will be to help train the Afghan National Army.