French stop mercenaries going to Africa

A dozen French mercenaries were allowed to go free yesterday after being stopped from taking part in the escalating civil conflict in Madagascar.

The mercenaries landed at Lyons airport after the French government turned back their private jet to Madagascar.

The soldiers of fortune – believed to have been hired by the former Madagascan president, Didier Ratsiraka – were allowed to leave Lyons airport after their identities had been checked by police.

French authorities said they were all French citizens and had broken no domestic law.

The foreign and defence ministries in Paris made it clear, however, that France had intervened to block their journey as part of a new anti-mercenary policy adopted last year, and a hands-off policy towards Africa adopted four years ago.

The new policies, reversing years of covert and overt interference in Africa by successive French governments, were adopted by the Socialist-led administration of Lionel Jospin who lost office last month. The decision to prevent the French mercenaries reaching Madagascar – and then to talk openly about it – represents a public statement by the new centre-right government that the hands-off approach to Africa remains unchanged.

A spokesman for the French foreign ministry said: "A private plane carrying passengers with suspect intentions was heading to Madagascar. We immediately took the appropriate measures to interrupt this flight, in liaison with the African authorities concerned by the path of this plane."

A defence ministry spokesman said the decision was made by the foreign ministry "in line with a policy adopted last year that anything touching on recruitment for mercenary activities would not be tolerated on French soil".

The days when the legendary French mercenary commander Robert Denard intervened with impunity in African conflicts – sometimes with tacit French government approval – appear to be over. Some French radio stations claimed that the "Madagascar 12" had been hired by Mr Denard, who is said to be retired in the French countryside. A source close to Mr Denard described this as "double bullshit". Asked if Mr Denard had now retired, as he claims, the source said: "no comment".

The mercenaries took off from Le Bourget airport near Paris on Tuesday night in a Falcon 900 jet. The plane was turned back by Tanzanian authorities after making a stop in Dar-es-Salaam on Wednesday.

Mr Ratsiraka, who lost a disputed election in December, fled to Paris last week amid signs that he was losing his battle for control of the Madagascan army and the country. He has refused to accept a court ruling last month that the election was won by his rival, Marc Ravalomanana.

Officials believe Mr Ratsiraka hired the soldiers to lead the disorganised factions of the Madagascan army that remain loyal to him. France wants the conflict to be solved through talks mediated by other African nations. A committee of the Organisation of African Unity is scheduled to meet in Addis Ababa today.