UPDATE - France rebukes Russian accusations on Africa as 'shameless lies'

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS FROM FRENCH SPOKESWOMAN

By Umit Donmez

ANKARA (AA) – France on Thursday hit back at accusations made by Russia's foreign minister that it was interfering in the domestic affairs of African nations.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's comments while on an Africa tour on Tuesday amount to "shameless lies," French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said in response to a question by Anadolu at a press conference.

Lavrov, who was in the Southern African country of Eswatini when he made these remarks, also said Paris was guilty of supporting terrorists in Libya.

"Our relations with the African countries are based on equal partnership, with a respect to sovereignty," spokeswoman Legendre added. "We will not respond to the shameless lies of Sergey Lavrov."

Legendre also asserted that that France backed African nations against terrorism and would continue to give its support to countries that wanted it.

*Writing by Nur Asena Erturk in Ankara