PARIS - President Nicolas Sarkozy's office on Thursday announced a progressive withdrawal of France's troops from Afghanistan, hours after the United States laid out a drawdown.

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France would also begin a "progressive withdrawal" in a manner proportional and following a timetable comparable to the withdrawal of the American reinforcements, the French president's office said in a statement.

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday night laid out his plans for Afghanistan troops drawdown that is set to begin next Month, ordering 10,000 troops from that country by year-end with a total of 33,000 troops to be out by next summer.