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French Say 2 Downed Pilots Are Alive

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Times Wire Services

Two French pilots whose jet was shot down over Serb-held territory in Bosnia-Herzegovina are alive, France’s defense chief said Friday.

Defense Minister Charles Millon told France 2 television in an interview from Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, that the men are presumed to be in Serbian hands.

“For security reasons, I can’t say more,” Millon said.

The pilots’ Mirage 2000 was shot down Aug. 30 near the Serbian stronghold of Pale in eastern Bosnia. Their fate has been uncertain despite several search-and-rescue operations organized by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

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French officials had earlier cast doubts on Bosnian Serb claims that the pilots were captured.

France is a major troop contributor to the multinational force trying to keep peace in the former Yugoslav federation.

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