Africans join in French celebration

PARIS, July 14 (UPI) -- Soldiers from 13 African nations marched in Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, marking half a century of independence from colonial rule, observers said.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was joined by 12 African heads of state in the parade, an annual display of French military power, Radio France Internationale reported Wednesday.

"It is a blood tie that we are celebrating," Sarkozy said, "the tie born of African troops' contribution to the defense and liberation of France" -- referring to Africans who fought for France during the 20th century's two world wars.

Immanuel Wallerstein, a sociologist who has written about African colonial history, says the event cannot completely erase the effects of a colonial past.

"It's an attempt on both sides to improve relations that sometimes get a little frayed," Wallerstein said. "France certainly wants that, and a lot of these leaders want that."

There were demonstrations before the parade protesting war crimes and other human rights violations in many of the former colonies, some of which are dictatorships today, RFI reported.

Sarkozy insisted the event was not about "colonial nostalgia."

"I know very well the notion of privileged and special relations, this flood of suspicions and fantasies, but the time has come to face up to it together, without inhibitions and without looking back," he told the assembled African leaders.