France to appeal light sentences of soldiers convicted of Africa bank robberies News
France to appeal light sentences of soldiers convicted of Africa bank robberies

[JURIST] France's Justice Ministry [official website] announced Wednesday that it would appeal the "lenient" sentences imposed on French peacekeeping soldiers convicted Tuesday [JURIST report] by a Paris military court of robbing an Ivory Coast bank while supporting a UN peacekeeping operation in the area. Eight of the soldiers were sentenced to a year in jail, while the other four were given sentences of between two and eight months. Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said "given the facts, the sentences are insufficient." BBC News has more.