After receiving word of the coup from the country's vice president, officials in Paris sent paratroopers to Gabon in a matter of hours and M'ba was quickly restored to power.

At one stage France declared a state of emergency and sent paratroopers.

After receiving word of the coup from the country's military chief of staff, Albert-Bernard Bongo, officials in Paris sent paratroopers to Gabon and restored M'ba to power in a matter of hours.

To the Editor: "Rwandan Enemies Struggle to Define French Role" (front page, June 27) states that 1990 was the "last time the French sent paratroopers to Rwanda."

At this time, the allied commanders were also finalizing the decision to send British paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.

The decision to send paratroopers and armored divisions into Afghanistan can be comfortably fobbed off onto Leonid I. Brezhnev and a small circle of men who joined in the decision, most of whom are no longer alive.

International A2-13 Moscow will send elite paratroopers to the Baltic republics and other separatist regions to arrest draft resisters and deserters, a move that could raise ethnic tensions and complicate U.S.-Soviet relations.

The White House today expressed concern about reports that the Soviet Union was sending paratroopers to the Baltic republics and other areas to round up draft evaders.

The White House today condemned the Soviet decision to send paratroopers into the Baltics to enforce the draft, calling the move "provocative and counterproductive" and urging Moscow to "cease attempts at intimidation."

Eisenhower responded by federalizing the Guard troops and sending paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division.