French soldier dies accidentally in Haiti from gunshot

Monday, March 22, 2004

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AFP: A member of the French foreign legion died accidentally in the northern Haitian city of Gonaives on Saturday as he checked over a gun, a French military spokesman said Sunday.

French troops had deployed to the northern Haitian city of Cap-Haitien earlier this week where they secured an airfield and started patrols as part of a 3,000 strong US, French, Chilean and Canadian multinational force.

"A legionnaire of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (REI) who had been deployed to Gonaives from French Guyana died on Saturday from wounds caused by the accidental discharge of a firearm," said Major Emmanuel Dinh, a spokesman for the French contingent.

Some 140 legionnaires from the 3rd REI have been in Gonaives since Thursday.

Most of the 750 French troops in Haiti are patrolling the north, while others have remained in the capital Port-au-Prince.

Gonaives, Haiti's fourth largest city, fell into rebel hands in early February during an armed insurrection that led to former president Jean Bertrand Aristide's resignation and flight into exile on February 29.

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