French president orders cessation of combat missions in Afghanistan

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced on Friday that French combat missions in Afghanistan would be halted, following the deaths of four French soldiers, Kuwait News Agency reports.

Sarkozy, in his annual address to diplomats, said he was ordering suspension of combat and training missions of French forces in this country.

The French president said he was sending his defense minister to Afghanistan following the death of the soldiers, who were killed by an Afghan soldier.

Sarkozy said he could not accept the deaths of French troops in such a manner and indicated that he would discuss with the Afghan president, during his visit to France, the date of the pullout of French troops from the country - originally set for 2014.