French fighter jets opened fire on rebel positions in the Central African Republic on several occasions at the weekend and are providing daily support to government troops, the French defence ministry said on Monday, according to Reuters. French Mirage fighters "again intervened several times during the weekend" as part of a policy of daily and constant support for government forces, French military staff spokesman Christophe Prazuck said. The French military is also offering tactical advice to government forces, Prazuck said. An offensive by government troops around the northeastern towns of Ouada and Ndele has met resistance from the forces of the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity, who have demanded that President Francois Bozize agree to power-sharing talks. France has around 300 troops in the Central African Republic under a 2003 military accord, and has six Mirage F1 jets based in the capital of neighbouring Chad providing air support.
