French soldiers in Ivory Coast had been forced to open fire in self-defence to hold back a ”pack of looters, rapists” attacking foreigners, armed forces chief General Henri Bentegeat said today.

US led forces in Afghanistan have had Osama bin Laden “within reach” on at least two occasions, but were unable to prevent him slipping away, France’s top general said today.

Osama bin Laden narrowly escaped capture by French troops in Afghanistan, perhaps several times, the head of France’s armed forces said today.