Iraq operation will take time: France

Paris, Sep 24 (IANS/EFE) French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian Wednesday said his country's military offensive against the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical group in Iraq will take time.

Le Drian, who announced late Tuesday that France would continue its attacks on the IS radicals "in the coming days" after destroying one of their logistics centres in northeastern Iraq, explained in an interview with France Info radio station that the operation was also aimed at maintaining France's own security.

"This terrorist group is not similar to previous terrorist groups," justified Le Drian, who stressed the organisation's "overwhelming fanaticism", its rapid advance in Syria and Iraq and its military and economic means.

The minister said the French intervention was in response to a request by Iraqi authorities, who needed help to fight the jihadis.

Le Drian also explained Paris had not extended the offensive against the IS to Syria because tasks were being distributed within the US-led coalition fighting the extremists.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls Wednesday is scheduled to present the details of the raids in Iraq to the parliament.

Le Drian did not give details on the abduction of a French citizen in Algeria by a group that claims to be affiliated to the IS which has threatened to kill him if France did not end its military operation against the jihadis in Iraq.

Le Drian said French authorities were cooperating with their Algerian counterparts in an attempt to free the hostage.

--IANS/EFE

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