French ships on alert

Press, 28 July 1987, Page 10

French ships on alert

NZPA-Reuter Paris A French aircraft carrier and three other warships yesterday prepared for a possible mission to the Gulf after being placed on 24-hour alert amid a growing crisis with Iran.

The Government ordered that the carrier Clemenceau, two guidedmissile frigates and a supply ship should be ready to leave the southern port of Toulon, base to France’s Mediterranean fleet. Defence Minister Andre Giraud said on television: “Since we have recalled the crews it is fairly probable that we will have them set sail.” The Defence Minister did not specify where the four ships on alert might ggo, but said: “As a precaution, we want to be able to protect in every circumstance our maritime traffic.” Defence Ministry sources said the remarks suggested the Gulf region as the most likely destination, but added that the eastern Mediterranean was also a possibility.

The alert follows 11 days of tense confrontation between Iran and France over the fate of both the countries’ diplomats, held virtually hos-

tage in Paris and Teheran. Paris cut relations with Teheran on July 17 and talks aimed at bringing home embassy staff have been paralysed by France’s insistence that an Interpreter at the Iranian mission must testify on a bombing campaign in Paris last year. A Defence Ministry spokesman said the naval stand-by could be linked to the embassy crisis, describing it “as a precaution in view of escalating international tension, particularly in the Middle East and in the Gulf.” “This is essentially a measure of precaution. Since we have a carrier group it is normal in the current situation that we should be able to make it leave rapidly,” Mr Giraud said. It could take more than two weeks for the warships to reach the Gulf. Tension in the area has increased over the last week with the start of a United States naval escort for 11 reflagged Kuwaiti tankers travelling through the Gulf. Since breaking links with Iran, France has taken steps to increase a previously low profile in the waterway, though says it will not follow the U.S. example of routinely escorting ships.