US combat death in war on extremists
SOME 12 people have been arrested after environmental activists hung a protest sign on the Eiffel Tower on the last day of campaigning in the French presidential election.
The Greenpeace activists converged on the tower at around 5am and managed to keep the banner, emblazoned with the French motto of “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” on display for around 45 minutes.
Six of them descended on ropes from the tower’s archway beneath the banner. The protest against Marine Le Pen, the far-right presidential candidate, came two days before France’s election and other protests have also broken out in Paris.
The capital’s school district said 10 high schools were completely or partially blocked by student protesters who say they oppose both presidential candidates. Students at a Paris high school have written an open letter to voters asking them to choose “democracy”.
The students at Lycee Buffon recalled the fate of five students shot in 1943 for fighting the Nazis and said France should unite in the fight against the far-right National Front and Ms Le Pen. “I’m 15, 16, 17 or 18, I’m a student. Even If I’m not old enough to vote, I’m concerned,” the letter said.
“Dear reader, you should know that Marine Le Pen’s France is not the France we love. Our France is beautiful, tolerant and cosmopolitan. So go and vote on Sunday, for this France, this democracy.”
Supporters of the centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron gave Ms Le Pen a hostile reception as she stopped at Reims cathedral.
Wearing T-shirts bearing his campaign slogans and holding placards, supporters chanted: “Marine, give the money back!”
French investigators asked the European Parliament last month to lift Ms Le Pen’s immunity so that she can face possible prosecution over suspected misuse of parliamentary salaries.
It comes as Mr Macron said his country has to find a common destiny and overcome the anger that is dividing it. He told Europe 1 radio that if he is elected his duty will be to “ensure that the country keeps its balance”.
He said he had chosen as his prime minister someone with enough political experience to help bring together a legislative majority but refused to name his choice.
A US service member has been killed during an operation against the extremist group al Shabab in the first US combat death in the country in 24 years.
It comes as the US steps up its fight against the al-Qaidalinked organisation. “We do not believe there has been a case where a US service member has been killed in combat action in Somalia since the incident there in 1993,” US Africa Command spokesman Patrick Barnes said.