The Socialist candidate for France's presidency attempted to consolidate his front-runner status on Sunday with a pledge to pull French troops out of Afghanistan and to combat international financial speculators that he blamed for much of the country's problems, Reuters reported. In a combative speech in front of thousands of loudly applauding supporters, Francois Hollande also promised to cut his own pay by 30 percent if elected and sought to attract young voters by asking to be judged on how much their lot improves over his first term. Hollande, a 57-year-old career politician, has extended his lead in polls over French President Nicolas Sarkozy, his expected rival in two-round elections in April and May. But he's virtually unknown outside France, and critics say he has limited international experience to head this nuclear-armed nation. "Mobilize, and in three months we will make the left win and take France forward," Hollande said at the end of his nearly 90-minute speech in an exhibition hall outside Paris. Hollande said that if elected, he would decide by the end of May on when to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan. Hollande was chosen as the Socialist candidate in a primary last October. -- SPA
