French marksman missing in US

2002-10-21 16:41

Paris - France has alerted Interpol about a French army deserter - known as an excellent marksman - who is missing in North America, feeding speculation of a link to the investigation into the Washington-area sniper investigation.

The 25-year-old second lieutenant did not return to class in September at the elite military school, Saint-Cyr Coetquidan in Brittany, in eastern France, after going on vacation in August, officials said.

Interpol was notified of the disappearance of the officer, a normal procedure, and a judicial investigation was opened, which is also normal, said defence ministry spokesperson Jean-Francois Bureau.

Speculation

Bureau acknowledged there was some speculation of a connection with the sniper investigation, but he said that was just hypothetical at this point.

"We have no certitude of a link," he said in a telephone interview. However, he said, "This soldier has a very, very good reputation as a marksman."

And since the September 11 terror attacks on the United States, "these are things we follow very closely," he added.

Interpol, the international police agency based in the French city of Lyon, said it refused to comment on active cases.

Deserter

The deserter, not identified by name, was given permission for an August trip to the United States and Canada, said Bureau. Police sources said he had planned a trip to Chicago.

RTL radio reported the deserter was of Yugoslav origin, but Bureau could not confirm that, saying that he had to be a French citizens to attend the military school.

The missing officer never showed up for school in September. The gendarmerie, a force under the defence ministry, sent a note last week to the interior ministry. Interpol was then contacted, said Bureau.

Bureau cast doubt on reports in the French media that students at Saint-Cyr alleged they recognised their comrade in an unofficial police composite drawing of the sniper reportedly shown on French television. - Sapa-AP

- SAPA